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LOVELL’S LIBRAB7. 


COMPLETE CATALOGUE BY AUTHORS, 

Loveli.’s Library now contains the complete writings of most of the best standard 
authors, such as Dickens, Thackeray, Eliot, Carlyle, Ruskin, Scott, Lytton, Black, etc., 
etc. 

Each number is issued in neat 12mo form, and the type will be found larger, and the 
paper better, than in any other cheap series published, 

JOHN W. L.OVELL 4 COMPANY, 

P. 0. Box 1992. 14: and 16 Vesey St., New York. 


BY G. M. ADAM AND A. E. 


WETHERALD 

846 Am Algonquin Maiden 20 

BY MAX ADELER 

295 Random Shots 20 

S25 Elbow Room 20 

BY GUSTAVE AIMARD 

560 The Adventurers 10 

667 The Trail-Hunter 10 

673 Pearl of the Andes 10 

1011 Pirates of the Prairies 10 

1021 The Trapper’s Daughter 10 

1032 The Tiger Slayer 10 

1045 Trappers of Arkansas 10 

1052 Border Rifles 10 

1063 The Freebooters 10 

1069 The White Scalper 10 

BY MRS. ALDERDICE 

846 An Interesting Case 20 

BY MRS. ALEXANDER 

62 The Wooing O’t, 2 Parts, each 15 

99 The Admiral’s Ward 20 

209 The Executor 20 

B49 Valerie's Fate 10 

664 At Bay 10 

746 Beaton’s Bargain 20 

777 A Second Life 20 

799 Maid, Wife, or Widow 10 

B40 By Woman’s Wit 20 

995 Which Shall it Be? 20 

BY F. ANSTEY 

I 30 Vice V ersk ; or, A Lesson to Fathers. . 20 

394 The Giant’s Robe 20 

453 Black Poodle, and Other Tales 20 

616 The Tinted Venus 15 

755 A Fallen Idol 20 

BY T. S. ARTHUR 

496 Woman’s Trials 20 

507 The Two Wives 15 

616 Married Life 15 

638 'J’he Ways of Providence .15 

645 Horne Scenes 15 

554 Stories for Parents 15 

563 Seed-Time and Harvest 15 

668 Words for the Wise 15 

674 Stories for Young Housekeepers 15 

679 Lessons in Life • 16 

682 Off-H.ind Sketches 16 

685 Tried and TempUrd 16 


BY HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN 


419 Fairy Tales 20 

BY EDWIN ARNOLD 

436 The Light of Asia 20 

455 Peai'ls of the Faith 15 

472 Indian Song of Songs 10 

BY W. E. AYTOUN 

351 Lays of the Scottish Cavaliers 20 

BY ADAM BADEAU 

756 Conspiracy 26 

BY SIR SAMUEL BAKER 

206 Cast up by the Sea 20 

227 Rifle and Hound in Ceylon 20 

233 Eight Years’ Wandering in Ceylon. .20 

BY C. W. BALESTIER 

381 A Fair Device 20 

405 Life of J. G. Blaine 20 

BY R. M. BALLANTYNE 

215 The Red Eric 20 

226 The Fire Brigade 20 

239 Erling the Bold 20 

241 Deep Down 20 

BY S. BARING-GOULD 

878 Little Tu’penny 10 

BY GEORGE MIDDLETON BAYNE 

460 Galaski 20 

BY AUGUST BEBEL 

712 Woman 30 

BY MRS. E. BEDELL BENJAMIN 

748 Our Roman Palace .20 

BY A. BENRIMO 

470 Vic 16 

BY E. BERGER 

901 Charles Auchester 20 

BY W. BERGSOE 

77 Pillone 15 

BY E. BERTHET 

366 The Sergeant's Legacy 20 

BY BJORNSTJERNE BJORNSON 

3 The Happy Boy 10 

4 Arne ,.10 


1 


LOVELL’S 

BY WALTEE BESANT 


18 They Were Married 10 

103 Let Nothing Yon Dismay 10 

257 >11 in a Garden Fair 20 

268 When the Ship Comes Home 10 

384 Dorothy Forster 20 

699 Self or Bearer 10 

842 The World Went Very Well Then . .20 

847 The Holy Rose 10 

1002 To Call Her Mine 20 

BY WILLIAM BLACK 

40 An Adventure in Thule, etc 10 

48 A Princess of Thule 20 

82 A Daughter of Heth 20 

85 Shandon Bells. 20 

93 Macieod of Dare 20 

13G Yolande. 20 

142 Sti’ange Adventures of a Phaeton. . . 20 

146 White Wings 20 

153 Sunrise, 2 Parts, each 15 

178 Madcap Violet 20 

18C Kilmeny 20 

182 That Beautiful Wretch 20 

184 Green Pastures, etc 20 

188 In Silk Attire 20 

213 The Three Feathers 20 

216 Lady Silverdale’s Sweetheart 10 

217 The Four MacNicols 10 

218 Mr. Pisistratus Brown, M.P 10 

225 Oliver Goldsmith 10 

282 Monarch of Mincing Lane 20 

4.56 Judith Shakespeare 20 

584 W^ise Women of Inverness 10 

678 White Heather 20 

958 Sabina Zembra 20 

BY MISS M. E. BRADDON 

88 The Golden Calf 20 

104 Lady Audley’s Secret 20 

214 Phantom Fortune -. 20 

266 Under the Red Flag 10 

444 An Ishmaelite 20 

555 Aurora Floyd 20 

588 To the Bitter End 20 

696 Dead Sea Fruit 20 

698 The Mistletoe Bough 20 

766 Vixen 20 

783 The Octoroon 20 

814 Mohawks 20 

868 One Thing Needful 20 

669 Barbara; or. Splendid Misery 20 

870 John Marchmont’s Legacy 20 

871 Joshua Haggard’s Daughter 20 

872 Taken at the Flood 20 

873 Asphodel 20 

877 The Doctor's Wife 20 

878 Only a Clod 20 

879 Sir J asper’s Tenant . .’f 20 

880 Lady’s Mile 20 

881 Bird.s of Prey 20 

882 Charlotte’s Inheritance 20 

883 Rupert Godwin 20 

886 Strangers and Pilgrims 20 

8b7 A Strange World 20 

888 Mount Royal. 20 

889 Just As I Am 20 

890 Dead Men’s Shoes 20 

892 Host, ges to Fortune 20 

893 Fenton’s Quest 20 

894 The Cloven Foot 20 


LIBRARY. 


BY FRANK BARRETT. 

1009 The Great Hesper ..24 

BY R. D. BLACKMORE 

851 Lorna Doone, Part I 20 

851 Lorna Doone, Part II. 20 

936 Maid of Sker 20 

955 Cradock Nowell, Part 1 20 

955 Cradock Nowell, Part II 20 

961 Springhaven 20 

1034 Mary Anerley 20 

1035 Alice Lorraine 20 

1036 Cristowell 29 

1037 Clara Vaughan 20 

1038 Cripps the Carrier 20 

1039 Remarkable History of Sir Thomas 

Upmore 20 

1040 Erema ; or. My Father’s Sin 20 

BY LILLIE D. BLAKE 

105 Woman’s Place To-day 20 

59' if Fettered for Life 25 

BY ANNIE BRADSHAW 

716 A Crimson Stain 20 

BY CHARLOTTE BREMER 

443 Life of Fredrika Bremer 20 

BY CHARLOTTE BRONTE 

74 Jane Eyre.. 20 

897 Shirley 20 

BY RHODA BROUGHTON 

23 Second Thoughts 20 

230 Belinda 20 

781 Betty’s Visions 15 

841 Dr. Cupid 20 

1022 Good-Bye, Sweetheart 20 

1023 Red as a Rose is She 20 

1024 Cometh up as a Flower 20 

1025 Not Wisely but too Well 20 

1026 Nancy 20 

1C 27 Joan 20 

BY ELIZABETH BARRETT 
BROWNING 

421 Aurora Leigh 20 

479 Poems 35 

BY ROBERT BROWNING 

552 Selections from Poetical Works 20 

BY WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT 

443 Poems 20 

BY ROBERT BUCHANAN 

318 The New Abelard .....20 

696 The Master of the Mine 10 

BY JOHN BUNYAN 

200 The Pilgrim’s Progress 20 

BY ROBERT BURNS 

430 Poems 20 

BY REV. JAS. S. BUSH 

113 More Words about the Bible 20 

BY E. LASSETER BYNNER 

100 Nimport, 2 Parts, each 15 

1U2 Tritons, 2 Parts, each IS 


L0VE1.I/S LIBRARY 


BY THOMAS CAMPBELL 

526 Poems 20 

BY ROSA NOUCHETE CAREY 

660 For Lilias 20 

911 Not Like other Girls 20 

912 Robert Ord’s Atonement 20 

959 Wee Wifie 20 

960 Wooed and Married 20 

BY WM. CARLETON 

190 WTily Reilly 20 

820 Shane Fadh’s Wedding 10 

821 Larry McFarland’s Wake 10 

822 The Party Fight and Funeral 10 

823 The Midnight Muss 10 

824 Pliil Parcel 10 

825 An Irish Oath 10 

826 Going to Maynooth 10 

827 Phelim O’Toole’s Courtship 10 

828 Dominick, the Poor Scholar 10 

829 Neal Malone 10 

BY THOMAS CARLYLE 

4S6 History of French R,evolution, 2 

Parts, each 25 

d94 Past and Present 20 

6U0 The Diamond Necklace ; and Mira- 

beau 15 

603 Chartism 20 

6' 8 Sartor Resartus 20 

614 Early Kings of Norway 20 

620 Jean Paul Friedrich Richter 10 

522 Goethe, and Miscellaneous Essays. . .IJ 

525 Life of Heyne 15 

528 Voltaire and Novalis 15 

641 Heroes, and Hero-Worship 20 

646 Signs of the Times 15 

650 German Literature 15 

661 Portraits of John Knox 15 

671 Count Cagliostro, etc 15 

678 Frederick the Great, Vol. I 20 

680 “ “ Vol. II 20 

501 “ “ “ Vol. Ill 20 

610 “ “ “ Vol. IV 20 

619 “ “ “ Vol. V 20 

622 “ “ “ Vol. VI 20 

626 “ “ “ Vol. VII 20 

628 “ “ “ Vol. VIII 20 

630 Life of John Sterling 20 

633 Latter-Day Pamphlets 20 

636 Life of Schiller 20 

6i3 Oliver Cromwell, Vol. 1 25 

646 “ “ Vol. II 25 

649 “ “ Vol. Ill 25 

652 Characteristics and other Essays. . . .15 

656 Corn Law Rhymes and other Essays .15 


653 Baillie the Covenanter and other Es- 


says 15 

661 Dr. Francia and other Essays 15 

BY LEYTIS CARROLL 

480 Alice’s Adventures 20 

481 Through the Looking-Glass 20 

BY “ CAVENDISH” 

422 Cavendish Card Essays 15 

BY CERVANTES 

417 Don Quixote 30 

BY L. W. CHAMPNEY 

119 Bourbon Lilies 20 


BY VICTOR CHERBTTLIEZ 


Samuel Brohl & Co 26 

BY BERTHA M. CLAY 

Her Mother’s Sin 20 

Dora Thorne 20 

Beyond Pardon 20 

A llroken Wedding-Ring 20 

Repented at Leisure 20 

Sunshine and Roses ‘20 

The Earl's Atonement 20 

A Woman’s Temptation 20 

Love Works Wonders 20 

Fair but False 10 

Between Two Sins 10 

At War with Herself 15 

Hilda 10 

Her Martyrdom 20 

Lord Lynn’s Choice 10 

The Shadow of a Sin 10 

Wedded and Parted 10 

In Cupid’s Net ..10 

Lady Darner’s Secret 20 

A Gilded Sin 10 

Between Two Loves 20 

For Another’s Sin 20 

Romance of a Young Girl 20 

A Queen Amongst Women 10 

A Golden Dawn 10 

Like no Other Love 10 

A Bitter Atonement 20 

Evelyn’s Folly 20 

Set in Diamonds 20. 

A Fair Myster 3 ' 20 

Thorns and Orange Blossoms 10 

Romance of a Black Veil 10 

Love’s Warfare 10 

Madulin’s Lover 20 

From Out Gloom 20 

Which Loved Him Best 10 

A True Magdalen 20 

The Sin of a Lifetime 20 

Prince Charlie’s Daughter 10 

A Golden Heart 10 

Wife in Name Only 20 

A Woman’s Error 20 

Marjorie 20 

A Wilful Maid 20 

Lady Castlemaine’s Divorce .20 

Claribel’s Love Story 20 

Thrown on the World 20 

XJ nder a Shadow . . 20 

A Struggle for a Ring 20 

Hilary’s Folly 20 

A Haunted Life 20 

A Woman’s Love Story 20 

A Woman’s War 20 

’Twixt Smile and Tear 20 

Lady Di ma’s Pride 20 

Belle of Lynn 20 

Marjorie's Fate 20 

Sweet Cymbeline 20 

Redeemed by Love 20 

The Squire’s Darling 10 

The Mystery of Coide Fell 20 

REV. JAS. FREEMAN CLARK 

Anti-Slavery Days 20 

BY S. T. COLERIDGE 

Poems 


242 

183 

277 

287 

420 

423 

458 

465 

474 

476 

558 

593 

651 

669 

6b9 

692 

694 

695 

700 

701 

718 

720 

727 

730 

733 

738 

739 

740 

744 

752 

764 

800 

801 

803 

804 

806 

807 

808 

809 

810 

811 

812 

815 

896 

922 

923 

926 

928 

929 

9:J0 

932 

933 

934 

969 

984 

985 

986 

988 

989 

1007 

1012 

1013 

BY 

167 

623 


3 


LOVELL S LIBRARY 


BY WILKIE COLLINS 

8 The Moonstone, Part 1 10 

9 The Moonstone, Part II 10 

24 The New Magdalen 20 

87 Heart and Science 20 

418 “I &iy No” 20 

407 Tales of Two Idle Apprentices 15 

6S0 The Ghost’s Touch 10 

086 My Lady’s Money 10 

722 The Evil Genius 20 

&I0 The Guilty River 10 

957 The Dead Secret 20 

90<I The Queen of Hearts 20 

1003 The Haunted Hotel 10 

BY HUGH CONWAY 

429 Called Back 15 

462 Dark Days 15 

612 Carriston’s Gift 10 

617 Paul Vargas: a Mystery 10 

631 A Family Affair 20 

667 Story of a Sculptor 10 

672 Slings and Aitows 10 

715 A Cardinal Sin 20 

745 Living or Dead 20 

760 Somebody’s Story 10 

968 Bound by a Spell 2j3 

BY J. FENIMORE COOPER 

6 The Last of the Mohicans 20 

63 The Spy 20 


378 Homeward Bound r^...20 

441 Home as Found 20 

463 The Deerslayer 30 

467 The Prairie 20 

471 The Pioneer 25 

484 The Two Admirals 20 

488 The Water- Witch 20 

491 The Red Rover 20 

501 The Pilot 20 

506 Wing and Wing 20 

612 Wyandotte ^ 20 

517 Heidenmauer 20 

619 The Headsman 20 

524 The Bravo 20 

527 Lionel, Lincoln 20 

529 Wept of Wish-ton- Wish 20 

632 Afloat and Ashore 25 

539 Miles Wallingford 20 

543 The Monikins 20 

648 Mercedes of Castile 20 

653 The Sea Lions 20 

559 The Crater 20 

562 Oak Openings 20 

670 Satanstoe 20 

576 The Chain-Bearer 20 

687 Ways of the Hour 20 

601 Precaution 20 

603 Redskins 25 

611 Jack Tier 20 


BY KINAHAN CORNWALLIS 


409 Adrift with a Vengeance 25 

BY THE COUNTESS 

1028 A Passion Flower 20 

1041 The World Between Them 20 


BY GEORGIANA M. CRAIK 

1006 A Daughter of the People 20 


BY R. CRISWELL 

350 Grandfather Lickshingle 2(J 

BY R. H. DANA, JR. 

464 Two Years before the Mast 20 

BY DANTE 

345 Dante’s Vision of Hell, Purgatory, 

and Paradise 20 

BY FLORA A. DARLING 

260 Mrs. Darling’s War Letters 20 

BY JOYCE DARRELL 

315 Winifred Power 20 

BY ALPHONSE DAUDET 

478 Tartarin of Tarascon 20 

604 Sidonie 20 

613 Jack 20 

615 The Little Good-for-Nothing 20 

645 Tne Nabob .25 

BY REV. C. H. DAVIES, D.D. 

453 Mystic London 20 

BY THE DEAN OF ST. PAUL’S 

431 Life of Spen.ser 10 

BY C. DEBANS 

475 A Sheep in Wolf’s Clothing 20 

BY REV. C. F. DEEMS, D.D. 

704 Evolution 20 

BY DANIEL DEFOE 

428 Robinson Crusoe 25 

BY THOS. DE QUINCEY 

20 The Spanish Nun 10 

BY CHARLES DICKENS 

10 Oliver Twist 20 

38 A Tale of Two Cities 20 

75 Child’s History of England 20 

91 Pickwick Papers, 2 Parts, each 20 

140 The Cricket on the Hearth 10 

144 Old Curiosity Shop, 2 Parts, each... 15 

150 Barnaby Rudge, 2 Parts, each 15 

158 David Copperfield, 2 Parts, each 20 

170 Hard Times 20 

192 Great Expectations 20 

201 Martin Chuzzlewit, 2 Parts, each. . ..20 

210 Amei’ican Notes 20 

219 Dombey and Son, 2 Parts, each 20 

223 Little Dorrit, 2 Parts, each 20 

228 Our Mutual Friend, 2 Parts, each... 20 

231 Nicholas Nickleby, 2 Parts, each 20 

234 Pictures from Italy 10 

237 The Boy at Mugby 10 

244 Bleak House, 2 Parts, each 20 

246 Slcetche.s of the Young Couples 10 

261 Master Humphrey’s Clock 10 

267 The Haunted Homse, etc 10 

270 The Mudfog Papers, etc 10 

273 Sketches by Boz. 20 

274 A Christmas Carol, etc 15 

282 Uncommercial Traveller 20 

288 Somebody’s Luggage, etc 10 

293 The Battle of Life, etc 10 

297 Mysterj" of Edwin Drood 20 

298 Reprinted Pieces 20 

302 No Thoroughfare 15 

437 Tales of Two Idle Apprentices 10 


4 


Lovell’s library. 


BY CARL DETLEF i 

27 Irene; or, The Lonely Manor 20 

BY PROF. BOWDEN 

404 Life of Southey 10 

BY JOHN DRYDEN 

498 Poems 30 

BY DU BOISGOBEY 

1018 Condemned Door 20 

BY THE “DUCHESS” 

58 Portia 20 

76 Molly Bawn 20 

78 Phyllis 20 

86 Monica 10 

90 Mrs. Geoffrey 20 

92 Airy Fairy Lilian 20 

126 Loys, Lord Beresford 20 

132 Moonshine and Marguerites 10 

1H2 Faith and Unfaith 20 

168 Beauty’s Daughters 20 

284 Kossinoyne 20 

451 Doris 20 

477 A Week in Killarney lO 

530 In Durance Vile 10 

618 Dick’s Sweetheart ; or, “ O Tender 

Dolores ” 20 

621 A Maiden all Forlorn 10 

624 A Passive Crime 10 

721 Lady Branksmere ,20 

735 A Mental Struggle 20 

737 The Haunted Chamber 10 

792 Her Week’s Amusement 10 

802 Lady Valworth's Diamonds 20 

BY LORD DUFFERIN 

95 Letters from High Latitudes 20 

BY ALEXANDRE DUMAS 

761 Count of Monte Cristo, Part 1 20 

761 Count of Monte Cristo, Part II 20 

775 The Three Guardsmen 20 

786 Twenty Years After 20 

884 The Son of Monte Cristo, Part I. . . .20 

884 The Son of Monte Cristo, Part II. . . 20 

885 Monte Cristo and His Wife 20 

891 Countess of Monte Cristo, Part I... 20 

891 Countess of Monte Cristo, Part II... 20 

998 Beau Tancrede 20 

BY ALEXANDRE DUMAS, JR. 

992 Camille 10 

BY MRS. ANNIE EDWARDS 

•681 A Girton Girl 20 

BY GEORGE ELIOT 

56 Adam Bede, 2 Parts, each 15 

69 A mos Barton 10 

71 Silas Marner 10 

79 liomola, 2 Parts, each 15 

149 Janet’s Repentance lO 

151 Felix Holt 20 

174 Middlemarch, 2 Parts, each 20 

195 Daniel Deronda, 2 Pai’ts, each 20 

202 Theophrastus Such 10 

205 The Spanish Gypsy.and other Poems20 

207 The Mill on the Floss, 2 Parts, each.l5 

J?08 Brother Jacob, etc 10 

874 Essays, and Leaves from a Note- 

Book 20 


1 BY M. BETHAM-EDWARDS 


j 203 Disarmed IS 

I 663 The Flower of Doom 10 

1C05 Next of Kin .20 

BY RALPH WALDO EMERSON 

373 Essays 20 

ENGLISH MEN OF LETTERS. 
EDITED BY JOHN MORLEY 

348 Bunyan, by J. A. Proude 10 

407 Bnrke, by John Morley 10 

334 Burns, by Principal Shairp 10 

347 Byron, by Professor Nichol 10 

413 Chaucer, by Prof, A. W. Ward 10 

424 Cowper, by Goldwin Smith 10 

377 Defoe, by William Minto 10 

383 Gibbon, by J. C. Morrison. 10 

225 Goldsmith, by William Black 10 

369 Hume, by Professor Huxley 10 

401 Johnson, by lieslie Stephen 10 

380 Locke, by Thomas Fowler 10 

892 Milton, by Mark Pattison 10 

898 Pope, by Leslie Stephen 10 

364 Scott, by R. H. Hutton 10 

361 Shelley, by J. Syrnonds 10 

404 Southey, by Professor Dowden 10 

431 Spenser, by the Dean of St. Paul’s. .10 
344 Thackeray, by Anthony Trollope. . .10 
410 Wordsworth, by F. Myers 10 

BY B. L. FARJEON 

243 Gautran ; or. House of White Shad- 
ows 20 

654 Love’s Harvest 20 

856 Golden Bells 10 

874 Nine of Hearts 20 

BY HARRIET FARLEY 

473 C h ristmas S tories 20 

BY F. W. FARRAR, D.D. 

10 Seekers after God 20 

50 Early Days of Christianity, 2 Parts, 

each 20 

BY GEORGE MANNVILLE FENN 

1004 This Man’s Wife 4) 

BY OCTAVE FEUILLET 

41 A Marriage in High Life 20 

987 Romance of a Poor Young Man. . . . 10 

BY FRIEDRICH. BARON DE LA 

MOTTE FOUQUE 

711 Undine 10 

BY MRS. EORRESTER 

760 Fair Women 20 

818 Once Again 20 

843 My Lord and My Lady 20 

844 Dolores 20 

850 My Hero 20 

859 Viva 20 

860 Omnia Vanitas 10 

&)1 Diana Carew 20 

862 From Olympus to Hades 20 

863 Rhona 20 

864 Roy and Viola 20 

865 June 20 

866 Mignon 20 

867 A Young Man’s Fancy 20 


LOVELL’S LIBEART. 


BY THOMAS FOWLER 

ISO Life of Locke 10 

BY FRANCESCA 

177 The Story of Ida 10 

BY R. E. FRANCILLON 

SIO A Real Queen 20 

850 Golden Bells 10 

BY ALBERT FRANKLYN 

122 Ameline de Bourg 16 

BY L. VIRGINIA FRENCH 

4S5 My Roses 20 

BY J. A. FROTTDE 

848 Life of Banyan 10 

BY EMILE GABORIAIJ 

114 Monsieur Lecoq, 2 Parts, each 20 

no The Lerouge Case 20 

120 Other People’s Money 20 

129 In Peril of His Life 20 

138 The Gilded Clique 20 

155 Mystery of Orel val 20 

101 Promise of Marriage 10 

258 File No. 113 .. 20 

BY HENRY GEORGE 

62 Progress and Poverty 20 

£1K) Land Question 10 

893 Social Problems 20 

790 Property in Land 15 

BY CHARLES GIBBON 

57 The Golden Shaft 20 

BY J. W. VON GOETHE 

842 Goethe’s Faust 20 

843 Goethe's Poem s 20 

BY NIKOLAI V. GOGOL 

1016 Taras Bulla 20 

BY OLIVER GOLDSMITH 

51 Vicar of Wakefield 10 

302 Plays and Poems 20 

BY MRS. GORE 

89 The Dean’s Daughter .20 

BY JAMES GRANT 

49 The Secret Despatch 20 

BY HENRI GREVILLE. 

ICOl Frankley 20 

BY CECIL GRIFFITH 

732 Victory Deane 20 

BY ARTHUR GRIFFITHS 

709 No. 99 10 

THE BROTHERS GRIMM 

221 Fairy Tales, Illustrated 20 

BY LIEUT. J. W. GUNNISON 

440 History of the Mormons 15 

BY ERNST HAECKEL 

97 India and Ceylon 20 

^BY MARION HARLAND 

107 Housekeeping and Homemaking — 16 


BY F, W. HACKLANDER 

606 Forbidden Fruit 2(1 

BY H. RIDER HAGGARD 

813 King Solomon’s Mines 20 

848 She 20 

876 The Witch’s Head 20 

900 Jess 20 

941 Dawn 20 

1020 Allan Quatermain 20 

BY A. EGMONT HAKE 

371 The Story of Chinese Gordon 20 

BY LUDOVIC HALEVY 

15 I/Abbe Constantin 20 

BY THOMAS HARDY 

43 Two on a Tower 20 

157 Romantic Adventures of a Milk- 
maid 10 

749 The Mayor of Casterbridge 20 

956 The Woodlanders 20 

964 Far from the Madding Crowd 20 

BY JOHN HARRISON AND M. 
COMPTON 

414 Over the Summer Sea 20 

BY J. B. HARWOOD 

269 One False, both Fair 20 

BY JOSEPH HATTON 

7 Clytie 20 

137 Cruel London 20 

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£70 Twice Told Tales 20 

316 Grandfather’s Chair 20 

BY MARY CECIL HAY 

466 Tinder the Will 10 

566 The Arundel Motto 20 

590 Old Myddleton’s Money 20 

787 A Wicked Girl 10 

971 Nora's Love Test ....20 

972 The Squire’s Legacy 20 

973 Dorothy’s Venture 20 

974 My First Offer 10 

975 Back to the Old Horae 10 

976 For Her Dear Sake 20 

977 Hidden Perils 20 

978 Victor and Vanquished 20 

BY MRS. FELICIA HEMANS 

683 Poems 30 

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533 Principles and Fallacies of Social- 
ism 16 

BY M. L. HOLBROOK, M.D. 

356 Hygiene of the Brain 25 

BY MRS. M. A, HOLMES 

709 Woman against Woman 20 

743 A Woman’s Vengeance 20 

BY PAXTON HOOD 

73 Life of Crom wel 1 15 

BY THOMAS HOOD 

511 Poems 3(^ 


LOVELL’S LIBRARY 


BY HORRY AND WEEMS 


86 Life of Marion 20 

BY ROBERT HOUDIN 

14 The Tricks of the Greeks 20 

BY ADAH M. HOWARD 

0*0 Against Her Will 20 

The Child Wife 10 

BY EDWARD HOWLAND 

742 Social Solutions, Part I 10 

,747 “ “ Part II 10 

758 “ “ Pi.rtlll 10 

7(12 “ “ Partly 10 

705 “ “ Party 10 

774 “ “ Party I 10 

778 “ “ Part y II 10 

782 “ “ Partyill 10 

785 “ ** Part IX 10 

788 “ “ PartX 10 

701 “ “ Part XI 10 

705 “ “ Part XII 10 

BY MARIE HOWLAND 

634 Papa’s Own Girl 80 

BY JOHN V7. HOYT, LL.D. 

535 Studies in Civil Service 15 

BY THOMAS HUGHES 

61 Tom Brown’s School Days 20 

180 '*^om Brown at Oxford, 2 Parts, each . 15 

BY PROF. HUXLEY 

SG9 Life of Hume ...10 

BY STANLEY HUNTLEY 

j}d The Spoopendyke Papers 20 

BY VICTOR HUGO 

784 Les M.serables, Part 1 20 

784 “ “ Part II 20 

784 “ “ Partin 20 

^ BY R. H. HUTTON 

804 Life of Scott 20 

BY WASHINGTON IRVING 

147 The Sketch Book 20 

198 Tales of a Traveller 20 

190 Life and yoyages of Columbus, 

Part 1. 20 

Life and Voyages of Columbus, 

Part II 20 

224 Abbotsford and Newstead Abbey .. .10 

230 Knickerbocker History of New York. 20 

249 The Crayon Papers 20 

268 The Alhambra 15 

272 Conquest of Granada 20 

279 Conquest of Spain 10 

231 Bracebridge Hall 20 

290 Salinagnndi 20 

299 Astoria 20 

301 Spanish Voyages 20 

805 A Tour on the Prairies 10 

308 Life of Mahomet, 2 Parts, each 15 

810 Oliver Goldsmith 20 

811 Captain Bonneville 20 

814 Moorish Chronicles 10 

821 Wolf erf B Roost and Miscellanies .... 10 


BY HARRIET JAY 

17 The Hark Colleen 20 

BY SAMUEL JOHNSON 

44 Rasselas .10 

BY MAURICE JOKAI 

754 A Modern Midas .20 

BY JOHN KEATS 

631 Poems ... 25 

BY EDWARD KELLOGG 1 

111 Labor and Capital .20 

BY GRACE KENNEDY 

106 Hunallan, 2 Parts, each 15 

BY JOHN P. KENNEDY 

67 Hor.se- Shoe Robinson, 2 Parts, each .15 

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89 The Hermits 20 

64 Hypatia, 2 Parts, each 15 

BY HENRY KINGSLEY 

726 Austin Eliot 20 

728 The Hillyars and Burtons 20 

781 Leighton Court 20 

736 Geoffrey Hamlyn 30 

BY W. H. G. KINGSTON 

254 Peter the Whaler .20 

322 Mark Sea worth 20 

824 Round the World 20 

835 The Young Foresters 20 

337 Saltwater 20 

338 The Midshipman 20 

BY F. KIRBY 

454 The Golden Dog 40 

BY A. LA POINTE 

445 The Rival Doctors 20 

BY MISS MARGARET LEE 

25 Divorce 20 

600 A Brighton Night 20 

725 Dr. VJilmcr’s Love 26 

741 Lorimer and Wife 20 

BY VERNON LEE 

707 A Phantom Lover 10 

798 Prince of the Hundred Soups IS* 

BY JULES LERMINA 

469 The Chase 20 

BY CHARLES LEVER 

327 Harry LoiTequer 20 

789 Charles O’Malley, 2 Parts, each. , . . .20 

794 Tom Burke of Ours, 2 Parts, each.. 20 

BY H. W. LONGFELLOW 

1 Hyperion 20 

2 Ontre-Mer 20 

482 Poems 20 

BY SAMUEL LOVER 

163 The Happy Man 10 

719 Rory O’ More ,....20 

849 Handy Andy if 


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BY COMMANDER LOVETT-CAM- 


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96 Gideon Fleyce 20 

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131 Jets and Flashes 20 

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962 Knights-Errant 20 

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275 lone Stewart 20 

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11 The Coming Eace 10 

12 Leila .10 

31 Ernest Maltravers 20 

82 The Haunted House 10 

45 Alice: A Sequel to Ernest Maltra- 
vers 20 

55 A Strange Story 20 

69 Last Days of Pompeii 20 

81 Zauoni 20 

84 Night and Morning, 2 Parts, each. .15 

117 Paul Clifford 20 

121 Lady of Lyons 10 

128 Money 10 

152 Richelieu IG 

160 Rienzi, 2 Parts, each 15 

176 Pelham 20 

204 Eugene Aram 20 

222 The Disowned 20 

240 Kenelm Chillingly 20 

245 What Will He Do with It ? 2 Parts, 

each 20 

247 Devereux 20 

250 The Caxtons, 2 Parts, each 15 

253 Lucretia 20 

255 Last of the Barons, 2 Parts, each . . .15 

259 The Parisians, 2 Parts, each 2 ) 

271 My Novel, 3 Parts, each, .v, 20 

276 Harold, 2 Parts, each 15 

289 God olphin 20 

294 Pilgrims of the Rhine 15 

317 Pausanias 15 

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833 Lays ' i' Ancient Rome 20 

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898 Joan Wentworth 20 

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771 The Old Mam’selle’s Secret 20 

1029 Gold Elsie 20 

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212 The Privateersman 20 

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35.3 Tales of the French Revolution 15 

3.54 Loom and Lugger 20 

357 Berkeley the Banker 20 

358 Homes Abroad 15 

363 For Each and For All . . 15 

372 Hill and Valley 15 

379 The Charmed Sea 15 

3t« Life in the Wilds 15 

395 Sowers not Reapers 15 

400 Glen of the Echoes 15 


LIBRARY. 

BY FLORENCE MARRYAT. 


903 The Master Passion 2S 

904 A Lucky Disappointment .10 

905 Her Lord and Master 20 

906 My Own Child .20 

907 No Intentions 20 

908 W ritten in Fire 20 

909 A Little Stepson 10 

910 W’ith Cupid’s Eyes 20 

931 Why Not? 20 

937 My Sister the Actress 20 

9-38 Captain Norton’s Diary 10 

939 Girls of Feversham 20 

94 J The Root of all Evil 20 

9 42 Facin g the Footlights 20 

943 Petronel 20 

944 A Star and a Heart . .10 

945 Aiige 20 

946 A Harvest of Wild Oats 20 

947 The Poison of Asps 10 

948 Fair-Haired Alda 20 

949 The Heir Presumptive 20 

950 Under the Lilies and Roses 20 

931 Heart of Jane Warner 20 

9.52 Love’s Conflict, Parti 20 

952 Love’s Conflict, Part II 20 

953 Phyllida : 20 

954 Out of His Reckoning 10 

979 Her World against a Lie 20 

990 Open Sesame 20 

991 Mad Dumaresq 20 

999 Fighting the Air 20 

BY HELEN MATHERS 

165 Eyre’s Acquittal 10 

1046 Cornin’ Thro’ the Rye 20 

1047 Sam’s Sweetheart 20 

1048 Story of a Sin 20 

1049 Cherry Ripe 20 

1050 My Lady Green Sleeves 20 

BY A. MATHEY 

46 Duke of Kandos 20 

60 The Two Duchesses 20 

BY W. S. MAYO 

76 The Berber 20 

BY J. H. McCarthy 

115 An Outline of Irish History 10 

BY JUSTIN McCarthy, m.p. 

278 Maid of Athens 20 

BY T. L. MEADE 

328 How It All Came Round 20 

BY OWEN MEREDITH 

331 Lucile 20 

BY JOHN MILTON 

389 Paradise Lost 20 

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377 LifeofDefoo 10 

BY MRS. MOLESWORTH 

1008 Marrying and Giving in Marriage . 10 

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416 Lalla Rookh 20 

487 Poems 40 

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383 Life of Gibbon W 


LOVELL’S 


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40^ Life of Burke .. 10 

BY EDWARD H. MOTT 

139 Dike County Folka 4<< 4.<4 «20 

BY ALAN MDIR 

813 Golden Girls 20 

BY LOUISA MUHLBACK 

1000 Frederick the Great and his Court* *30 
1014 The Daughter of an Empress* * * . * * *30 
1033 Goethe and Schiller ....*.******** .30 

BY MAX MULLER 

130 India i What Can It Teach tfs ? . . * . 20 

BY DAVID CHRISTIE MURRAY 

197 By the Gate of the Sea. **«...***** ..15 
758 Cynic Fortune* .**.*.*.*..**.****** .10 

BY E* MYERS 

410 Life of Wordsworth * * * ******** 10 

BY MISS MULOCR 

S3 John Halifax ****20 

435 Miss Tommy 15 

7ul Kiug Arthur. * *..***.,**.****.*.* *30 

BY EIORENCE NEELY 

564 Hand-Book for the Hitch en* .** * **20 


BY REV* R. H* NEWT3H 

83 Right and W rong tJ ses of the Bi ble * * 20 

BY LOHN NICHOL 
847 Life of Byron .,*** * ***.***********10 

BY LAMES R* NICHOLS, M.D, 

375 Science at Home .*.**,.***.,,*.., *20 

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108 Ho Hew Dhlng .**.**. *********.* *20 
692 That Terrible Man .*.************* 10 
779 My Friend Jim* * *,***,*.**..** ** ,.l0 

BY CHRISTOPHER NORTH 

489 Noctes Ambrosianaa ***,..**.** * * * *80 

BY LAURENCE OLIPHANT 

196 Altlora Peto* *,***.,*,* ..*,*,.*,.,20 
BY MRS. OLIPHANT 
124 The Ladies Lindores* .****,, ****** 20 

179 The Little Pilgrim * * * * * . 10 

175 Sir Tom 20 

The Wisavd’s Soft ,,**,*.***,.*,*, ,26 
868 Old Lady 61 ary .**,* ******** ****** 10 
603 OUveFs Bride ******.***** ***,**,*10 

717 A Country Getitleman 20 

B31 Thf} Soft of his Father ..***,***,,* *20 
920 John i a Love Story *20 

925 A Poor Gefttleftiatt, *,,,*.**.*, * * * . 20 
994 Lucy Croftoft,* , * — ,10 

BY OUIDA 

112 Wandfl^ 2 Parts, «?Hch, , * * * * . * . * * * .16 
127 Ufldttr Two Flags, 3 Partfs, each . , , . 20 

387 Prin WBs Kapraxine * * 25 

676 ARamy June * iO 

763 MtJthfl .***(*9* **•*<*,. •.****»4***** 20 

790 Othmsr .20 

066 A House Party*... .. ,9., 30 

662 Frien.<)!shlp .****,**'*..,. * * * . . 20 

863 tft Marrmma, * .20 

364 Signa,..,,,. /.SO 

1566 Paiward,.,.., ..,,20 


LIBRARY. 


BY MAX 0 RELL 

336 John Bull and His Island ,26 

459 John Bull and His Daughters 20 

BY ALBERT X. OWEN 

656 Integral Co-operation .30 

BY LOUISA PARR 

42 Robin ...20 

BY MARK FATTISON 

892 Life of Milton .... 13 

BY JAMES PAYN 

187 Thicker than Water. ..,**,,,* * , . . 20 
830 The Canon’s Ward ..*.**** .**,... CO 
669 Luck of the Darrells * * . < * ... 30 

BY HENRY PETERSON 

1016 Pemberton .,.*** * 30 

BY EDGAR ALLAN POE 

403 Poems * , ... ....**.***.. 20 

426 Narrative of A. Gordon Py m *.*..,. 15 

432 Gold Bug, and Other Tales. l5 

438 The Assignation, and Other Tales.. 15 
447 The Murders in the Bug Morgue . ... 15 

BY WILLIAM POLE, E.R.S* 

406 The Theory of the Modem Scien- 
tific Game of Whist, 15 

BY ALEXANDER POPE 

391 Homer’s Odyssey **,.,*.*, *.**...*. 20 

396 Homer's Iliad.*** 80 

457 Poems .*..*,****< I **<**.*,***<.**. 30 

BY JANE porter 

189 Scottish Chiefs, Part I* .20 

Scottish Chiefs, Part II, ****.**... .20 
382 Thaddeus of Warsaw .... ..*..*.,. 26 

BY C. E. POST AND ERED* C. 
LEUBUGHER 

338 The Gdorge^Hewitt Campalgtt .20 

BY ADELAIDE A. PROCTER 

889 Poems,,. .20 

BY AGNES RAY 

1010 Mrs* Gregory 20 

BY CHARLES READS 

28 Singieheart and Doublefaco, ,*,.,. .10 

41 S A Perilous Secret 20 

769 Fotil Play 20 

773 Put Yourself in his Place* 20 

913 Griffith Gaunt 20 

§14 A Terrible Temptation. *,,*.,...*,. 20 
916 Very Hard Cash..,* 20 

916 It Is Kever Too Late to Mend ...... 20 

917 The .Hftlghtsbridge Mystery 10 

918 A Woman Hater.. 20 

919 Readiantt* ... * **..*..*...**.*.. 10 

BY REBECCA EEEGUS REDD 

16 Freckles * * *20 

408 The Hrlcrflcld Tra.gGdy .20 

BY '' RITA » 

666 Dame tUirden. **.**.. »,,*,.*..* **2^1 
699 Like Dinn'a Kisa 9ft 

BY SIR K. ROBERTS 

101 Maw'y HvihrooU# 


LOVELL’S LIBRARY. 


BY A. M. F. ROBINSON 

i84 Aiden 15 

BY REGINA MARIA ROCHE 

411 Children of the Abbe}' 30 

BY BLANCHE ROOSEVELT 

83'? Marked “In Haste ” 20 

BY DANTE ROSSETTI 

Poems 20 

BY MRS. ROWSON 

Charlotte Temple 10 


1^9 

497 

B05 

610 

516 

621 

637 


no 


BY JOHN RDSKIN 

Sesame and Lilies 10 

Crown of Wild Olives 10 

Ethics of the Dust 10 

Queen of the Air 10 

Seven Lamps of Architecture. 20 

Lectures on Architecture and Paint- 



ing 

...15 

542 

Stones of Venice, 3 Vols., each. . , 

...25 

665 

Modern Painters, Vol. I 

...20 

572 

“ *• Vol. 11 

...20 

677 

“ “ Vol. Ill 

....20 

589 

“ “ Vol. IV 

...25 

608 

“ “ Vol. V 

...26 

696 

King of the Golden River 

...10 

623 

Unto this Last 

...10 

627 

Munera Pulveris 


037 

“ A Joy Forever ” 

. ..15 

639 

The Pleasures of England 

...10 

642 

The Two Paths 


644 

Lectures on A.rt 

...15 

077 

Aratra Pentelici 

.. .15 

650 

Time and Tide 


665 

Mornings in Florence 

...15 

068 

St. Mark’s Rest 

...15 

67G 

Deucalion 

...15 

67.3 

Art of England 


676 

Eagle’s Nest 

...15 

679 

“ Our Fathers Have Told Us” .. . 

...15 

682 

Proserpina 

. . .15 

685 

Val d'Amo 


088 

Love’s Meinie 


707 

Fors Clavigera, Part I 

...30 

708 

“ “ Part II 

...30 

713 

“ “ Part HI 

...30 

714 

“ “ Part IV 

...30 


BY W. CLARK RUSSELL 


123 

A Sea Queen 

...20 

899 

John Holds worth 

. ..20 

&33 

A Voyage to the Cape 

.. 20 

834 

J ack’s Courtship 

...20 

835 

A Sailor’s Sweetheart 

...20 

&36 

On the Fo’k’sle Head 

...20 

997 

The Golden Hope 

...20 


BY DORA RUSSELL 


616 

The Broken Seal 

...20 


BY GEORGE SAND 


1S5 

The Tower of Percemont 

...20 

965 

The Lilies of Florence 

...20 


BY MRS. W. A. SAVILLE 


87 

Social Etiquette 

...15 


BY J. X. E. SAINTINB 

Plcciola 


BY J. C. F. VON SCHILLER 

341 Schiller’s Poems 2G 


171 


BY MICHAEL SCOTT 

Tom Cringle’s Log 


.20 


BY SIR WALTER SCOTT 

145 Ivanhoe, 2 Parts, each 15 

359 Lady of the Lake, with Notes 20 

489 Bride of Lammermoor 20 

490 Black Dwarf 10 

492 Castle Dangerous 15 

493 Legend of Montrose 15 

495 The Surgeon’s Daughter .’10 

499 Heart of Mid-Lothian 30 

502 Waverloy 20 

504 Fortunes of Nigel 20 

509 Peveril of the Peak 30 

515 The Pirate 20 

536 Poetical Works 40 

544 Redgauntlet 25 

551 W oodstock 20 

557 Count Robert of Paris 20 

669 The Abbot 20 

575 Quentin Durward 20 

581 The Talisman 20 

586 St. Ronan's Well 20 

.595 Anne of Geierstein 20 

605 Aunt Margaret’s Mirror 10 

607 Chronicles of the Canongate 15 

609 The Monastery 20 

620 GuyMannering 20 

625 Kenilworth 25 

629 The Antiquary 20 

682 Rob Roy 20 

635 The Betrothed 20 

638 Fair Maid of Perth 20 

6 11 Old Mortality 20 

BY EUGENE SCRIBE 

22 Fleurette 20 

BY PRINCIPAL SHAIRP 

3.34 Life of Burns 10 

BY MARY W. SHELLEY 

5 Frankenstein 10 

BY PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY 

549 Complete Poetical Works 30 

BY S. SHELLEY 

191 The Nautz Family 20 

BY WILLIAM GILMORE' SIMMS 


.10 I 


640 

648 

653 

657 

662 

671 

674 

677 

680 

684 

687 

690 

693 

697 

702 

703 
705 


The Partisan .30 

Mellicharape ^ 

The Yemassee .30 

Katherine Walton 80 

Southward Ho ! .30 

The Scout 30 

The Wigwam and Cabin 30 

Vasconselos SO 

Confession 30 

Woodcraft. SO 

Richard Hurdis SO 

Guy Rivers 30 

Border Beagles 30 

The Forayers 30 

Chari emont 30 

Eutaw 30 

Beauchampe 80 


10 


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832 Sir Percival 10 

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125 Haunted Hearts 10 

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B13 Men, Women, and Lovers 20 

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924 Karma 20 

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780 Bad to Beat 10 

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425 Self-Help 25 

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694 A Summer in Skye. 20 

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110 False Hopes 15 

424 Life of Cowper 10 

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65 Selma 15 

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248 Life of Webster, 2 Parts, each 15 

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449 Quisiana 20 

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896 Life of Pope 10 

401 Life of Johnson 10 

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461 Socialism 10 

BY STEPNIAK 

173 Underground Bussia 20 

BY ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON 

767 Kidnapped 20 

768 Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. 

Hyde 10 

769 Prince Otto 10 

770 The Dynamiter 20 

793 New Arabian Nights 20 

819 Trei\sure Is' an d 20 

921 The Merry Men 20 

BY IIESBA STRETTON 

729 In Prison and Out 20 

BY EUGENE SUE 

772 Mysteries of Paris, 2 Parts, each . . .20 
776 The Wandering Jew, 2 Parts, each .20 

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68 Gulliver’s Travels 2C 

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BURNE. 

412 Poems 20 

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801 Life of Shelley 10 

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442 Taine’s English Literature 40 


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BY LORD TENNYSON 

446 Poems 40 

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141 Henry Esmond .. .20 

143 Denis I) aval 20 

148 Catherine 10 

156 Level, the Widower 10 

164 Barry Lyndon 20 

172 Vanity Fair 30 

193 History of Pendennis, 2 Parts, each. .20 

211 The Newcomes, 2 Part.®!, each 20 

220 Book of Snobs 10 

229 Paris Sketches 20 

235 Adventures of Philip, 2 Parts, each ..15 

238 The Virginians, 2 Parts, each 20 

252 Critical Reviews, etc 10 

256 Eastern Sketches 10 

262 Fatal Boots, etc 10 

264 The Four Georges 10 

280 Fitzboodle Papers, etc 10 

283 Roundabout Papers. . 20 

285 A Legend of the Rhine, etc 10 

286 Cox’s Diary, etc 10 

292 Irish Sketches, etc 20 

296 Men’s Wives 10 

300 Novels by Eminent Hands 10 

303 Character Sketches, etc 10 

304 Christmas Books 20 

306 Ballads 15 

307 Yellowplush Papers 10 

309 Sketches and Travels in London 10 

313 English Humorists 15 

316 Great Hoggarty Diamond . .1C 

320 The Rose and the Ring 10 

BY JUDGE D. P. THOMPSON 

21 The Green Mountain Boys 20 

BY THEODORE TILTON 

94 Tempest To.ssed, Part 1 20 

94 Tempest Tossed, Part II 20 

BY ANTHONY TROLLOPE 

133 Mr. Scarborough’s Family, 2 Parts, 

each 15 

251 Autobiography of Anthony Trollope.20 

344 Life of Thackeray 10 

367 An Old Man’s Love 15 

BY F. A. TUPPER 

895 Moonshine 20 

BY J. VAN LENNEP 

468 The Count of Talavera 20 

BY VIRGIL 

540 Poems 25 

BY JULES VERNE 

34 800 Leagues on the Amazon 10 

35 The Cryptogram 10 

154 Tour of the World in Eighty Days. .20 

166 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea .. ..20 

185 The Mysterious Island, 3 Parts, each.15 

BY QUEEN VICTORIA 

356 More Leaves from a Life in the High- 
lands .16 


11 


LOVELL'S LIBRARY. 


BY L. B. WALFORD. 

1055 Mr. 20 

1056 The H\ tory of a Week 10 

j057 The Baby's Grandmother 20 

1058 Troublesome Daughter 20 

1050 Cousins 20 

BY GEORGE WALKER 

13 The Three Spaniards 20 

BY PROF. A. W. WARD 

413 Life of Chaucer 10 

BY F. WARDEN 

757 Doris’ Fortune 10 

980 At the World’s M^Tcy 10 

981 The House on the Marsh 20 

982 Deldee 20 

083 A Prince of Darkness 20 

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935 Ten Thousand a Year, Part 1 20 

“ “ Part II 20 

“ “ “ Partin ....20 

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427 Life of Grover Cleveland 20 

BY E. WERNER 

614 At a High Price 20 

734 Vineta 20 

BY MRS. HENRY WOOD 

54 East Lynne 20 

902 The Mystery 20 

BY MRS. WHITCHER 

194 Widow Bedott Papers 20 

BY J. G. WHITTIER 

450 Poems 20 

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9G3 Her Johnnie 20 

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80 Science in Short Chapters 20 


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352 Poems M 

BY C. F. WINGATE 

830 Twilight Club Tracts 26 

BY EDMUND YATES 

723 Running the Gauntlet 29 

724 Broken to Harness 20 

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858 A Motiern Telemachus £0 

899 Love and Life 20 

BY ERNEST A. YOUNG 

666 Barbara’s Rival 20 

691 A Woman’s Honor 20 

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26 Life of Washington 20 

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47 Baron Munchausen 10 

63 The Vendetta, by Balzac 20 

66 Margaret and her Bridesmaids 20 

72 Queen of the County 20 

98 The Gypsy Queen ^ 

118 A New Lease of Life 20 

169 Beyond the Sunrise 20 

181 Whist, or Bumblcpuppy ? ..10 

360 Modern Christianity a Civilized 

Heathenism 15 

265 Plutarch’s Lives. 5 Parts, each 20 

291 Famous Pu! ny Fellows 20 

323 Life of Paul Jones 20 

332 Every-Day Cook-Book 20 

340 Clayton’s Rangers 20 

385 Swiss Family Robinson 20 

386 Childhood of the World 10 

397 Arabian Nights’ Entertainments. . , .25 
402 How He Reached lihe White House .25 

433 Wrecks in the Sea of Life 20 

4,34 Typhaines Abbey 25 

483 Tlie Child Hunters 15 

857 A Wilful Young Woman 20 

966 The Story of Our Mess 20 

967 The Three Bummers 20 

1019 Soeur Louise 20 


Any number in the above list can generally be obtained from all booksellers and 
new.sdealers, or when it cannot be so obtained, \vill be sent, free by mail, on receipt of 
price by the publiahers. 

JOHN W. LOVELL COMPANY, 

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LOVELL’S LIBRARY 


X-.A.TEST ^SSXJES. 


980 At the World’s Mercy, F. Warden. 10 

981 The House on the Marsh, by F. 


Warden 20 

982 Deldee, by F. Warden 20 


983 A Prince of Darkness, by Warden. .20 

984 ’Tvrixt Smile and Tear, by Clay.. .20 
9S5 Lady Diana’s Pride, by B. M. Clay.. 20 
936 Belle of Lynn, by Bertha M. Clay... 20 

987 Romance of a Poor Young Man, by 

Octave Feuillet 10 

988 Marjorie’s Fate, by Bertha M. Clay. 20 
939 Sweet Cymbeline, by B. M. Clay . , .20 

990 Open Sesame, by Florence Marryat. 20 

991 Mad Dumaresq, by F. Marryat 20 

992 Camille, by Alexandre Dumas, Jr.. 10 

993 The Child Wife, by A. M. Howard. 10 

994 Lucy Crofton, by Mrs. Oliphant....l0 

995 Which Shall it Be ? by Mrs. Alex- 

ander 20 

996 The Queen of Hearts, by Collins. . .20 

997 The Golden Hope, by W'. C. Russell.20 

998 Beau Tancrede, by Alex. Dumas 20 

999 Fighting the Air, by F. Marryat. . 20 

1000 Frederick the Great and his Court, 


by Louisa Muhlbach 30 

1001 Frankley, by Henri Greville 20 


1002 To Call Her Mine, by W. Besant.20 

1003 The Haunted Hotel, by W. Collins. 10 

1004 This Man’s Wife, by G. M. Fenn..20 

1005 Next of Kin Wanted, by M. Beth- 

am-Ed wards 20 

1006 A Daughter of the People, by 

Georgiana M. Craik 20 

1007 Redeemed by Love, by B. M. Clay. 20 

1008 Marrying and Giving in Marriage, 

by Mrs. Molesworth 10 

1009 The Great Hesper, by F. Barrett.. 20 

1010 Mrs. Gregory, by Agnes Ray 20 

1011 Pirates of the Prairies, by Aimard.lO 

1012 The Squire’s Darling, by Clay... 10 

1013 The Mystery of ColdeFell, byClay.20 

1014 The Daughter of an Empress, by 

Louisa Miihlbach 30 

1015 Pemberton, by Henry Peterson... 80 

1016 Taras Bulba, by Nikolai V. Gogol.. 20 

1017 A Vital Question, by Nikolai G. 

Tchernuishevsky 30 

1018 The Condemned Door, by F. du 

Boisgobey 20 

1019 Soeur Louise (Louise de Bruneval)20 

1020 Allan Quatermain, by Haggard. . . 20 

1021 The Trapper’s Daughter, by 

Gustave Aimard 10 

1022 Good-Bye, Sweetheart, by Rhoda 

Broughton 20 

1023 Red as a Rose is She, by Rhoda 

Broughton . 20 

1024 Cometh up as a Flower, by Rhoda 

Broughton 20 

1025 Not Wisely, But Too Well, by 

Rhoda Broughton 20 


1026 Nancy, by Rhoda Broughton 20 

1027 Joan, by Rhoda Brougnton 20 

1028 A Near Relation, by Coleridge 20 

1C29 Brenda Yorke, by Mary Cecil Hay. 10 

1030 On Her Wedding Morn, by Clay. . 10 

1031 The Shattered Idol, by B. M. Clay. 10 

1032 The Tiger Slayer, by G. Aimard.. 10 

1033 Letty Leigh, by Bertha M. Clay. . .10 

1034 Mary-Anerley,by R. D. Blackmore.20 

1035 Alice Lorraine, by Blackmore 20 

1036 Christo well, by R. D. Blackmore .20 

1037 Clara Vaughan, by Blackmore.. . .20 

1038 Cripps the Carrier, by Blackmore.20 

1039 Remarkable History of Sir Thomas 

Upmore, by R. D. Blackmore. . .20 

1040 Erema; or. My Father’s Sin, by 

R. D. Blackmore 20 

1041 The Mystery of the Holly Tree, by 

Bertha M. Clay ... 10 

1042 The Earl’s Error, by B. M. Clay. .10 

1043 Arnold's Promise, by B. M. Clay.. 10 

1044 Forging the Fetters, by Alexander. 10 

1045 The Trappers of Arkansas, by 

Gustave Aimard 10 

1046 Cornin’ thro’ the Rye, by Mather8.20 

1047 Sam’s Sweetheart, by Mathers. . . .20 

1048 Story of a Sin, by H. B. Mathers.. 20 

1049 Cherry Ripe, by H. B. Mathers.. .20 

1050 My Lady Green Sleeves, by Math- 

ers 20 

1051 An Unnatural Bondage, by Clay. .10 

1052 Border Rifles, by Gustave Aimard.lO 

1053 Gold Elsie, by E. Marlitt 20 

1054 Goethe and Schiller, by Muhlbach. 30 

1055 Mr. Smith, by L. B. Walford 20 

1056 The History of a Week,byWalford.lO 

1057 The Baby’s Grandmother, by Wal- 

ford 20 

1058 Troublesome Daughters, by Wal- 

ford 20 


1059 Cousins, by L. B. Walford .. 20 

1060 The Bag of Diamonds, by Fenn..20 

1061 Red Spider, by S. Baring-Gould. . 20 

1062 Dick’s Wandering, by J. Sturgis.. 20 

1063 The Freebooters, by G. Aimard... 10 

1064 The Duke’s Secret, 1^ B. M. Clay. 20 

1065 A Modern Circe, by The Duchess 20 

1066 An American Journey,by Aveilng.30 

1067 (Jeoffrey Moncton, by S. Moodie..80 

1068 Flora Lyndsay, by S. Moodie 20 

1069 The White Scalper, by G. Aimard.lO 

1070 Confessions of an English Opium 

Eater, by Thomas de Quincey...20 

1071 Guide of the Desert, by Aimard . . 10 


From Aavance Sheets : 


1072 “ The Duchess,” by The Duchess.20 

1073 Scheherazade, by F. Warden 20 

1074 Roughing it in the Bush, by Su- 

sanna Moodie 20 

1075 The Insurgent Chief, by Aimard.. 10 


Dealers can always obtain complete Catalogues with Imprint, for free distribu- 
tion, on application to the Publishers, 

JOHN W. LOVELL COMPANY, 

14 & 10 'V'essy Street, New York. 


The Freebooters 





GUSTAVE AIMARD 

AUTHOR OF “TRAPPERS OF ARKANSAS,” “BORDER RIFLES,” “WHITE SCALPERS,” ETC. 


REVISED AND EDITED BY PERCY B. ST. JOHN 



New YORK 

JOHN W. LOVELL COMPANY 

14 AND 16 Veskv Street 


t 




TZ.5 

.A?v94T^ 

* (o 


TROW’8 

PBINTINQ AND BOOKBINOINQ COMPANY, 
NEW yORK, 


K. CPU. 


CONTENTS 


, tHAFTKR 

E$ FRAY ANTONIO • 

II. INDIAN DIPLOMACY 

III. DOWN THE PRECIPICE , 

IV. .TWO ENEMIES , 

V. GENERAL RUBIO , 

VI. THE hunters’ COUNCIL 

VII. AN OLD FRIEND • 

vni. quoniam’s return , 

IX. hospitality 
X. the larch-tree hacienda 
XI. A metamorphosis • 

XII. THE SUMMONS • « 

XIII. THE SIEGE « • 

XIV. THE proposal • • 

XV. A thunderbolt" • 

XVI. THE CONSPIRATORS • i 

XVII. THE SPY • • 

XVIII. THE PULQUERIA « • 

XIX. AT SEA • • 

XX. THE PRIZE • e 

XXI. THE PREPARATION • 

tXU, THE SURPRISE , « 

XXlll. EL SALTO DEL FRAYLK 

XXIV. THE LANDING • • 


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9 

17 

23 

25 

29 

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44 

49 

55 

60 

66 

73 

79 

«5 

92 

99 

106 

III 

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ns 

\ 19 


XXV 


FORWARD 1 




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THE FREEBOOTERS 


CHAPTER I. 

FRAY ANTONIO. 

Fray Antonio \^as no coward ; far from it ; in several critical circumstances 
he had displayed true bravery ; but he was a man to whom existence he 
led offered enormous advantages and incalculable delights. Lite seemed to him 
good, and he did all in his power to spend it jolly and free from care, ^-'''ucc, 
through respect for himself, he was extremely prudent, only facing danger when 
it was absolutely necessary ; but at such times, like all men driven into a 
corner, he became terrible and really dangerous to those who, in one way or the 
other, had provoked in him this explosion of passion. 

It is more than probable that Fray Antonio made none of these reflections 
while he stepped silently and quietly through the trees, leaving the man who 
had helped him, and probably saved his life, to struggle as he could with the 
crowd of red-skins. 

In Mexico, as the clergy are recruited from the poorest class of the popula- 
tion, their ranks contain certain men of gross ignorance, and iur the most part 
of doubtful morality. 

Fray Antonio was assuredly no better or worse than the other monks whose 
gown he wore ; but, unluckily for him, for some time past fatality appeared to 
have vented its spite on him. 

The atrocious mystification of which John Davis had rendered the poor monk 
a victim had especially spread a gloomy haze over his hitherto so gay mind ; 
a sad despondency had seized upon him j and it was with a heavy and uncertain 
step that he fled through the forest. 

Night surprised poor Fray Antonio ere he had reached the skirt of thi*2 f Drest, 
which seemed to him interminable. Unarmed, without means of lighting a fire, 
half-dead with hunger and alarm, the monk glanced around in utter despair, 
and fell to the ground, giving vent to a dull groan. 

Still, after a few moments, the instinct of self-preservation gainv'^i the 
mastery, and the monk, whose teeth chattered with terror on hearing through the 
forest the lugubrious roaring of tfie wild beasts, which were beginning to awaken, 
and greeted in their fashion the longed-for return of gloom — rose with a feverish 
energy, and suffering from that feverish over-excitement which fear raised to a 


6 


The Freebooters i 


certain pitch produces, resolved to profit by the fugitive rays that still crossed 
the glade, to secure himself a shelter for the night. 

Opposite him was a majestic live oak, whose interlaced branches and dense 
foliage seemed to offer him a secure retreat against the probable attack of the 
gloomy denizens of the forest. 

Assuredly, under any other circumstances than those in which he found 
himself, the bare idea of clambering up this immense tree would have appeared 
to the monk the height of folly and mental aberration, owing to his paunch 
and awkwardness. 

But it was a, critical moment : at each instant the situation grew more 
dangerous ; the howling came nearer ; there was no time to hesitate. After 
walking once or twice round the tree in order to discover the spotwhidi oifered 
^.he greatest facility for his ascent, he gave vent to a sigh, embraced the 
enormous and rugged tiunk with his aims and knees, and painfully conimenced 
his attempt. 

But it was no easy matter, especially for a plump monk, to mount the tree, 
and Fray Antonio soon perceived this fact at his own expense ; for each time 
that he managed to raise himself a few inches from the ground, his strength 
suddenly failed him, and he fell back on the ground with lacerated hands and 
torn clothes. 

Ten times already he had renewed his efforts, with the desperation produced 
by despair, without seeing them crowned with success ; the perspiration poured 
down his face ; his chest heaved ; he was in a state to produce pity even in his 
most bitter enency. 

“ I shall never succeed in getting up this,” he muttered Sadly ; “ and if I 
remain here, I am a lost man, for in less than an hour I shall be infallibly 
devoured by some tiger in search of its supper.” 

This final reflection, which was incontestably true, restored new ardour to the 
monk, who resolved to make a new and final attempt. But this time he wished 
to take every precaution ; .consequently, he began collecting the dead wood 
round him and piling it at the foot of the tree, so as to form a scaffolding high 
.enough for him to reach, without any great difficulty, a low branch, where, 
being careful to remain awake, he might hope to spend the night without fear 
of being devoured — an alternative for which the worthy monk did not feel the 
slightest inclination. 

Soon, thanks to the rapidity of his movements. Fray Antonio had a consider- 
able heap of wood. A smile of satisfaction lit up his wide face, and he breathed 
again as he wiped away the perspiration from his face. 

“ Thi^ time,” he muttered, “ if I do not succeed, I shall be clumsy.” 

In the meanwhile the last gleams of twilight had entirely disappeared ; the 
absence of the stars, which had not yet appeared, left a profound obscurity in 
the sky ; all was beginning to be blotted out, only allowing here and there a 
few clumps of trees to be distinguished, as they outlined their gloomy masses 
in the night, or a few patches of water, the result of the last storm, which 
studded the forest with paler spots. The evening breeze had risen, and could 
be heard soughing through the foliage with a sad and melancholy plaintiveness. 

The dangerous denizens of the forest had quitted their lurking-places, and 
crushed the dead wood, as they eagerly came on, amid a deafening current of 
cat-like howls. The monk had not an instant to lose. 

After taking a searching glance around him, the monk devotedly crossed 
himself, recommended himself to Heaven with a sincerity he had probably 
f»ever evinced before, and then, suddenly making up his mind, began resolutely 
climbing to the top of this fictitious mount. 


Fray Antonio, 


7 


He then stopped for a minute to draw breath ; Fray Antonio was nov/ nearly 
ten feet from the ground. It is true that any animal could easily have over- 
thrown this obstacle; but this beginning of success revived the monk’s courage, 
the more so because, on raising his eyes he saw, a few paces above him, the 
blessed branch toward which he had so long extended his arms in vain. 

He embraced the tree once more, and recommenced his clambering. Fray 
Antonio at length managed to seize the branch with both hands, and clung to 
it with all his strength. The rest was as nothing. The monk collected all the 
vigour his previous attempts had left him, and raising himself by his arms, 
tried to get astride on the branch. Already he had raised his head and 
shoulders above the branch, when he felt a hand or a claw clutch his right leg, 
and squeeze it as in a vice. A shudder of terror ran over the monk’s body : 
his blood stood still in his veins ; an icy perspiration beaded on his temples, 
and his teeth chattered. 

“ Mercy I ” he exclaimed in a choking voice, “ I am dead. Holy Virgin, have 
pity on me.” 

His strength, paralysed by terror, deserted him, his hands let loose the pro- 
tecting branch, and he fell, like a log, at the foot of the tree. Fortunately for 
Fray Antonio, the care he had taken in piling up the dead wood to a 
considerable extent broke his fall, otherwise it would probably have been 
mortal ; but the shock he experienced was so great that he completely lost his 
senses. The monk’s fainting fit was long ; when he returned to life and opened 
his eyes again, he took a frightened glance around, and fancied he must be 
suffering from a horrible nightmare. 

He still found himself by the tree, which he had tried so long to climb, but 
he was lying close to an enormous fire, over which half a deer was roasting, and 
around him were some twenty Indians, crouching on their heels, silently smoking 
their pipes, while their horses, picketed a few yards off, and ready to mount, 
were eating their provender. 

These new friends were clothed in their war-garb, and from their hair drawn 
off their foreheads, and their long barbed lances, it was easy to recognise them 
as Apaches. 

The monk’s blood ran cold, for the Apaches are notorious for their cruelty. 
Poor Fray Antonio had fallen from Charybdis 'nto Scylla; he had only escaped 
from the jaws of the wild beasts in order to be in all probability martyred by 
the red-skins. It was a sad prospect which furnished the unlucky monk with 
ample material for thoughts, each more gloomy than the other, for he had often 
listened with a shudder to the hunters’ stories about th^ atrocious tortures the 
Apaches take a delight in inflicting on their prisoners with unexampled 
barbarity. 

Still, the Indians went on smoking silently, and did not appear to perceive 
that their captive had regained his senses. For his part, the monk kept his 
eyes closed. 

At length the Indians left off smoking,' and after shaking the ash out of their 
calumets, passed them again through their girdle ; a red-skin removed from the 
fire the half deer, which was perfectly roasted, laid it in abanijo leaves in front 
of his comrades, and each man drawing his scalping-knife, prepared for a 
vigorous attack on the venison, which exhaled an appetising odour, especially 
for the nostrils of a man who, during the whole past day, had been condemned 
to an absolute fast. 

At this moment the monk felt a heavy hand laid on his chest, while a voice said — 

“ The father of prayer can open his eyes now, for the venison is smoking, and 
bis share is cut off,” 


s 


The Freebooters, 


The monk, perceiving that his stratzigem was discovered, and excited by the 
smell of the meat, having made up his mind, opened his eyes, and sat up. 

“ Och ! ” the man said, “ my father can eat ; he must be hungry, and has 
dept enough.” 

The monk attempted to smile, but only made a frightful grimace. As, how. 
ever, he was as hungry as a wolf, he followed the example offered him by the 
Indians, who had already commenced their meal, and set to work eating the 
lump of venison which they had the politeness to set before him. The meal 
did not take long ; still it lasted long enough to restore a little courage to the 
monk, and make him regard his position from a less gloomy side. 

The behaviour of the Apaches was anything but hostile ; on the con- 
trary, they were most attentive, giving him more food so soon as they perceived 
that he had nothing before him : they had even carried their politeness so far 
as to give him a few mouthfuls of spirit, an extremely precious liquid, of which 
they are most greedy. 

When he had ended his meal, the monk, who was almost fully reassured as 
to the amicable temper of his new friends, on seeing them light their pipes, 
took from his pocket tobacco and an Indian corn leaf, and after rolling a pnjillo 
with the skill which the men of Spanish race possess, he conscientiously enjoyed 
his smoke. 

A considerable space of time elapsed, and not a syllable was exchanged. By 
degrees the ranks of the red-skins thinned : one after the other, at short 
intervals, rolled themselves in their blankets, lay down with their feet to the 
fire, and went to sleep. Fray Antonio, crushed by the emotions of the day, 
and the fatigue he had experienced, would gladly have imitated the Indians, 
had he dared, for he felt his eyes close involuntarily. At last the Indian who 
hitherto had alone spoken, perceiving his state of somnolency, took pity on 
him. He rose, fetched a horsecloth, and brought it to the monk. 

“ My father will wrap himself in this fressada,” he said; “the nights are cold 
and my father needs sleep greatly, he will, therefore, feel warmed with this 
To-morrow Blue-fox will smoke the calumet with the father of prayer.” 

Fray Antonio gratefully accepted the horsecloth, wrapped himself up care- 
fully, and lay down by the fire so as to absorb the largest amount of caloric 
possible. Still the Indian’s words did not fail to cause him some degree o 
anxiety. 

“ Hum 1 ” he muttered, “ that is the reverse of the medal. What can thif 
pagan have to say to me? he does not mean to ask me to christen him, I sup- 
pose ? especially as his name appears to be Blue-fox — a nice savage name, that 
Well, heaven will not abandon me, and it will be day to-morrow. So now for a 
snooze.” 

And with this reflection the monk closed his eyes : two minutes later he slep^ 
as if never going to wake again. 

Blue-fox remained crouched over the fire the whole night, plunged in gloomy 
thought, and watching, alone of his comrades, over the common safety. 

At sun-rise Blue-fox was still awake: he had remained the whole night 
without sleep. 


CHAPTER IT. 

INDIAN DIPLOMACY* 

Trt« nJglit passed calm and peaceful. As soon as the sun appeared oti thft 
horizon, saluted by the deafening concert of the birds hidden beneath the 
foliage, Blue-fox, who had hitherto remained motionless, extended his right arm 
in the direction of the monk, who was lying by his side, and gently touched him 
with his hand. This touch, slight as it was, sufficed, however, to arouse Fray 
Antonio. 

“ Has my brother slept well ? ” the Indian asked in his hoarse voice ; “ the 
Wacondah loves him, has watched over his sleep, and kept Nyang, the genius 
of evil, away from his dreams.” 

I have indeed slept well, chief, and I thank you for your cordial hospi- 
tality.” 

A smile played round the Indian’s lips, as he continued — 

“ My father is one of the chiefs of prayer of his nation, the God of the pale- 
faces is powerful, He protects those who devote themselves to His service.” 

As this remark required no answer, the monk contented himself by 
bowing. Still, his anxiety increased; beneath the chiefs gentle words he 
fancied he could hear the hoarse voice of the tiger, which licks its lips ere de- 
vouring the booty it holds gasping in its terrible claws. 

Fray Antonio had not even the resource of pretending not to understand the 
speaker, for the chief expressed himself in Spanish, a language all the Indian 
tribes understand. 

The morning was magnificent ; the trees, with their dew-laden leaves, seemed 
greener than usual ; a slight mist, impregnated with the soft matutinal odours, 
rose from the ground, and was sucked up by the sunbeams, which with each 
moment grew warmer. The whole camp was still sunk in sleep ; the chief and 
the monk were alone awake. After a moment’s silence. Blue-fox continued— 

“ My father will listen,” he said ; “ a chief is about to speak j Blue-fox is a 
sachem, his tongue is not forked.” 

** I am listening,” Fray Antonio replied. 

*' Blue-fox is not an Apache, although he wears their costumes, and leads one 
of their most powerful tribes on the war-trail ; Blue-fox is a Snake Pawnee. 
Many moons ago Blue-fox left the hunting-grounds of his nation, never to 
return to them, and became an adopted son of the Apaches ; why did Blue-fox 
act thus?” 

The chief paused. ^ The monk was on the point of answering that he did not 
know the fact, and did not want to, but a moment’s reflection made him under- 
stand the danger of such an answer. 

"The brothers of the chief were ungrateful to him,” he replied, and the 
sachem left them, after shaking off his mocassins at the entrance of their 
village.” 

The chief shook his head in negation. 

" No,” he answered, " the brothers of Blue-fox loved him, they still weep for 
his absence ; but the chief was sad, a friend had left him, and took away his 
heart.” 

" Ah 1 ” said the monk, not at all understanding. 

" Yes,” the Indian continued ; " Blue-fox could not endure the absence of hie 
friend, and left his brothers to go in search of him,” 

” Of course you have found the person again f ” 


10 


The Freebooters, 


For a long time Blue-fox sought in vain ; but one day he at length saw him 
again.” 

Good, and now you are re-united ? ” 

“ My father does not understand,” the Indian answered drily. 

This was perfectly correct. The monk did not understand a syllable ; but 
the peremptory accent with which Blue-fox uttered the last sentence aroused 
him, and while recalling him to a feeling of his present position, made him 
comprehend the danger of not seeming to take an interest in the conversation. 

“ Pardon me, chief,” he eagerly answered ; “on the contrary, I perfectly under- 
stand; but I am subject to a certain absence of mind completely independent of 
my will, which I assure you is no fault of mine.” 

“ Good, my father is like all the chiefs of prayer of the pale-faces, his 
thoughts are constantly directed to the Wacondah.” 

“ So it is, chief,” the monk exclaimed ; “ continue your narrative, I beg.” 

“ Wah ! my father constantly traverses the prairies of the pale-faces ; and 
my father knows the pale hunters of these prairies ? ” 

“ Nearly all.” 

“ Very good ; one of these hunters is the friend so deeply regretted by Blue- 
fox,” the Indian continued. “ Very often the red-skin warrior has been led a 
short distance from his friend by the incidents of the chase, but never near 
enough to make himself known.” 

“ That is unfortunate.” 

“ The chief would like to see his friend, and smoke the calumet of peace with 
him, while conversing about old times, and the period when they traversed 
together the hunting-grounds of the sachem’s terrible nation.” 

“ Then the hunter is an Indian ? ” 

“ No, he is a pale-face ; but if his skin is white, the Great Spirit has placed 
an Indian heart in his bosom.” 

“ But why does not the chief frankly go and join his friend, if he know where 
he is P ” 

At this insinuation, which he was far from anticipating, the chief frowned, 
and a cloud momentarily crossed his face. 

“ Blue-fox does not go to meet his friend, because the latter is not alone.” 

“ That is different, and I can understand your prudence.” 

“ Good,” the Indian added ; “ wisdom speaks by the mouth of my father ; he 
is certainly a chief of prayer, and his lips distil the purest honey.” 

Fray Antonio drew himself up, and his alarm was beginning to be dissipated ; 
he saw vaguely that the red-skin wished to ask something of him. This thought 
restored his courage. 

•“ What my brother is unable to do, I can undertake,” he said, in an insinuating 
voice. 

The Apache gave him a piercing glance. 

“ Wah I ” he replied ; “ then my father knows where to find the chief* 
friend?” 

“ How should I know it ? ” the monk objected ; “ you have not told me hia 
name yet.” 

“ That is true ; my father is good, he will forgive me. So he does not yet 

know who the pale-face is ?” t u- c 

“ I know him, perhaps, but up to the present I am ignorant whom the chief 

alludes to.” , v- i. i. 

“ Blue-fox is rich ; he has numerous horses ; he can assemble round his totem 
one hundred warriors, and ten times twenty times more. If my father is willing 
to serve the sachem, he will find him grateful,” 


Indian Diplomacy, 


11 


‘*1 ask nothing better than to be agreeable to you, chief, if it lies in my 
power ; but you must explain clearly what I have to do.” 

“ Good ; the sachem will explain everything. My father will listen. Among 
all the pale hunters, whose mocassins trample the prairie grass in all directions, 
there is one who is braver and more terrible than the rest ; the tigers and 
jfguars fly at his approach, and the Indian warriors themselves are afraid to 
cope with him. This hunter is no effeminate Yori ; the blood of the Gachupinos 
does not flow in his veins ; he is the son of a colder land, and his ancestors 
fought for a lengthened period with the Long Knives of the East.” 

“ Good,” the monk said ; “ from what the chief tells me, I see that this man 
is a Canadian.” 

“ That is the name given, I think, to his nation.” 

But among all the hunters I am acquainted with, there is only one who is a 
Canadian.” 

“ Wah 1 ” said the chief, “ only one ? ” 

“Yes; his name is Tranquil, I think, and he is attached to the Larch-tree 
hacienda.” 

“ Wah ! that is the very man. Does my father know him ? ” 

“ Not much, I confess, but still sufficiently to present myself to him.” 

“ Very good.” 

“ Still, I warn you, chief, that this man, like all his fellows, leads an extremely 
vagabond life, being here to-day and gone to-morrow.” 

“ My father need not trouble himself ; the sachem will lead him to the camp 
of the Tiger-killer.” 

“ Very good ; I will answer for the rest.” 

“ My father must carefully retain in his heart the words of Blue-fox. The 
warriors are awaking ; they must know nothing.” 

The conversation broke off here. The warriors were really awaking, and the 
camp, so quiet a few moments previously, had now the aspect of a hive, when 
the bees prepare at sunrise to go in search of their daily crop. At a sign from 
the chief, the hachesto, or public crier, mounted a fallen tree, and twice uttered 
a shrill cry. At this appeal all the warriors, even those still lying on the ground, 
hastened to range themselves behind the chief. A deep silence then prevailed 
for several minutes ; all the Indians, with their arms folded on their chest, and 
their faces turned to the rising sun, awaited what the sachem was about 
to do. 

The latter took a calabash full of water, which the hachesto handed him, and 
in which was a spray of wormwood. Then raising his voice, he sprinkled 
toward the four cardinal points, saying — 

“ Wacondah, Wacondah ! thou unknown and omnipotent Spirit, whose uni- 
verse is the temple. Master of the life of man, protect thy children I ” 

“ Master of the life of man, protect thy children 1 ” the Apaches repeated in 
chorus, respectfully bowing. 

“ Creator of the great sacred tortoise, whose skill supports the world, keep 
far from us Nyang, the genius of evil ! deliver our enemies to us, and give us 
their scalps. Wacondah ! Wacondah ! protect thy children ! ” 

“ Wacondah ! Wacondah ! protect thy children 1 ” the warriors repeated. 

The sachem then bowed to the sun. 

“ And thou, sublime star, visible representative of the omnipotent and invin- 
cible Creator, continue to pour thy vivifying heat on the hunting-grounds of thy 
red sons, and intercede for them with the Master of life. May this clear water 
I offer thee be grateful. Wacondah ! Wacondah 1 protect thy children 1 ” 

“ Wacondah I Wacondah ! protect thy children ! ” the Apaches repeated, and 


12 


Ttie Freebooters, 


followed their chiefs example by kneeling. The latter then took a medicine- 
rod, and waved it several tmies over his head. 

Nyang, spirit of evil, rebel against the Master of Life, we brave and despise 
thy power, for the Wacondah protects us ! ” 

All the congregation uttered a loud yell, and rose. When the morning prayer 
had been said, and the rites performed, each man began attending to his daily 
duties. 

Fray Antonio had witnessed with extreme astonishment this sacred and 
effecting ceremony, whose details, however, escaped his notice, for the words 
uttered by the chief had been in the dialect of his nation, and consequently in- 
comprehensible to the monk. He experienced a certain delight on seeing that 
these men, whom he regarded as barbarians, were not entirely so. 

The expiring camp-fires were now rekindled, in order to prepare the morning 
meal, while scouts started m every direction to assure themselves that the road 
was free. The monk, being now completely reassured, ate with good appetite 
the provisions offered him, and made no objection to mount the horse the chief 
indicated to him, when they set out on the termination of the meal. 

They rode for several hours along tracks marked by wild beasts, forced, 
through the narrowness of the paths, to go in Indian file, and although the 
monk perceived that the sachem constantly kept by his side, he did not feel at 
all alarmed. 

A little before mid-day they halted on the bank of a small stream, shadowed 
by lofty trees, where they intended to wait till the great heat had passed. The 
monk was not at all vexed at this delay, which enabled him to rest in the 
cool. During the halt Blue-fox did not once address him, and the monk made 
no attempt to bring on a conversation. 

At about four p.m. the band re-mounted, and set out again ; but this time, 
instead of going at a walking pace, they galloped. The ride was long ; the sun 
had set for more than two hours, and still the Indians galloped. At length, at 
a signal from their chief, they halted. Blue-fox then went up to the monk, and 
drew him aside. 

“ We must separate here,” he said ; “ it would not be prudent for the Apaches 
to go further : my father will continue his journey alone.” 

I ? ” the monk said, in surprise j “ you are jesting, chief — I prefer remaining 
with you.” 

“ That cannot be,” the Indian said. 

“ Where the deuce would you have me go at this hour, and in this darkness?” 

“ My father will look,” the chief continued, stretching out his arm to the 
south-west ; “ di.'^es he see that reddish light scarce rising above the horizon ?” 

Fray Antonio looked attentively in the direction indicated. “ Yes,” he said, 
presently, “ I do see it.” 

“ Very good ; that flame is produced by a camp-fire of the pale-faces.” 

“ Oh, oh 1 are you sure of that ?” 

“ Yes ; but my father must listen ; the pale-faces will receive my father kindly.” 

“ I understand ; then I will tell Tranquil that his friend Blue-fox desires to 
speak with him.” 

“ The magpie is a chattering and brainless bird, which gabbles like an old 
squaw,” the chief roughly interrupted him ; “ my father will say nothing.” 

“ Oh ! ” the monk said, in confusion. 

“ My father will be careful to do what I order him, if he does not wish his 
icalp to dry on a lance.” 

Fray Antonio shuddered at this menace, 

I swear it, chief,” he said. 


Dotvn the Precipice. 


'5 


“ A man does not swear,” the chief remarked ; “ he says yes or no. When 
my father reaches the camp of the pale-faces he will not allude to the Apaches; 
but when the pale hunters are asleep, my father will leave the camp and come 
to Blue-fox.” 

“ But where shall I find you ?” the monk asked. 

My father need not trouble himself about that, for I shall manage to find 
him.” 

“ Very good.” 

If my father is faithful, Blue-fox will give him a buffalo-skin full of gold 
dust ; if not, he must not hope to escape the chief; the Apaches are crafty, the 
scalp of a chief of prayer will adorn the lance of a chief.” 

“ Good-bye, then,” replied the monk. 

“ Till we meet again,” the Apache said, with a grin. 

^ Fray Antonio made no reply, but uttered a deep sigh, and pushed on in the 
direction of the camp. The nearer he drew to it, the more difficult did it appear 
to him to accomplish the sinister mission with which the Apache chief had 
intrusted him ; twice or thrice the idea of flight crossed his mind, but whither? 

At length the camp appeared before the monk’s startled eyes ; as he could not 
draw back, for the hunters had doubtless perceived him already, he decided on 
pushing forward, while desperately muttering — 

“ The Lord have mercy upon me I ” 


CHAPTER III. 

DOWN THE PRECIPICE. 

We have several times visited the narrow defile where the Border Rifles and 
the Mexicans fought the action we described in a previous volume. Bending 
over the precipice, with our eyes fixed on the yawning abyss, we heard the 
narrative of the strange incidents of that battle of giants, and if we had not 
been certain of the veracity of the narrator, we should certainly have not only 
doubted, but completely denied the possibility of certain facts which are, how- 
ever, rigorously true, and which we are now about to impart to the reader. 

The Border Rifles saw with a shriek of horror the two men, intertwined like 
serpents, roll together over the precipice ; the flashes of the fire, which was 
beginning to die out for want of nourishment, after devastating the crests of the 
hills, threw at intervals a lurid light over this scene, and gave it a striking aspect. 

The first moment of stupor past, John Davis, mastering with difficulty the 
emotion that agitated him, sought to restore courage, if not hope, to all these 
men who were crushed by the terrible catastrophe. John Davis enjoyed, and 
justly so, a great reputation among the borderers. All knew the close friend- 
ship which attached the Americans to their chief : in several serious affairs he 
had displayed a coolness and intelligence which gained him the respect and 
admiration of these men : hence they immediately responded to his appeal, by 
grouping silently round him, for they understood intuitively that there was only 
one man among them worthy of succeeding the Jaguar, and that he was the North 
American. 

John Davis had guessed the feelings that agitated them, but did not allow it 


14 


The Freelooters, 


to be seen : his face was pale, his appearance sad : he bent a thoughtful glanco 
on the rude, determined men who, leaning on their rifles, gazed at him mourn- 
fully, and seemed already tacitly to recognise the authority with which he was, 
probably, about to invest himself. 

Their expectations were deceived, at least, temporarily. Davis, at this 
moment, had no intention of making the borderers elect him as their chief : the 
fate of his friend entirely absorbed him. 

“ Friends,” he said, in a melancholy tone, “a terrible misfortune has struck 
us. Under such circumstances, we must summon up all our courage and 
resignation, for women weep, but men revenge themselves. The death of the 
Jaguar is not only an immense loss to ourselves, but also for the cause we have 
sworn to defend, and to which he has already given such great proof of devo- 
tion. But, before bewailing our chief, so worthy in every respect of the sorrow 
which we shall feel for him, we have one duty to accomplish — a duty which, if 
we neglect it, will cause us piercing remorse.” 

“Speak, speak, John Davis, we are ready to do anything you order us,” the 
borderers exclaimed. 

“ I thank you,” the American continued, “ for the enthusiasm with which you 
have replied to me : I cannot believe that an intellect so vast, a heart so noble, as 
that of our beloved chief can be thus destroyed. Heaven will have performed a 
miracle in favour of our chief, and we shall see him reappear among us safe 
and sound ! But whatsoever may happen, should this last hope be denied us, at 
any rate we must not abandon like cowards, without attempting to save him, 
the man who twenty times braved death for each of us. For my part, I swear 
by all that is most sacred in the world, that I will not leave this spot till ! have 
assured myself whether the Jaguar be dead or alive.” 

At these words a buzz of assent ran along his hearers, and John Davis con- 
tinued, “ Who knows whether our unhappy chief is not lying crushed, but still 
breathing, at the foot of this accursed abyss, and reproaching us for our 
cowardly desertion of him ?” 

The Border Rifles declared, with one accord, that they would find their chief 
again, dead or alive. 

“ Good, my friends,” the American exclaimed ; “ if he be unhappily dead, we 
will bury him and protect his remains, so dear to us on many accounts, from the 
insults of wild beasts : but, I repeat to you, a presentiment tells me that he is 
still alive.” 

“ May Heaven hear you, John Davis,” the borderers shouted, “ and restore 
us our chief.” 

“ I am going to descend the precipice,” the American said ; “ I will inspect its 
most secret recesses, and before sunrise we shall know what we have to hope or 
fear.” 

This proposal of John Davis was greeted as it deserved, by enthusiastic 
shouts. 

“ Permit me a remark,” said an old wood-ranger. 

“Speak, Ruperto, what is it?” Davis answered. 

“ I have known this spot for a long time.” 

“ Come to facts, my friend.” 

“ You can act as you please, John Davis, on the information I am about 
to give you ; by turning to the right, after marching for about three miles, you 
get round the hills, and what appears to us from here a precipice, is, in fact, 
only a plain, very narrow, I allow, but easy to traverse on horseback.” 

“ Ah, ah,” John said thoughtfully, “and what do you conclude from that, 
Kuperto 


bourn the Precipice. 


*5 


** That it would be, perhaps, better to mount and skirt the hills.” 

"Yes, yes, that is a good idea, and we will take advantage of it ; take 
twenty men with you, Ruperto, and proceed at full speed to the plain you allude 
to, for we must not throw away any chance ; the rest of the band will remain 
Siere to watch the environs, while I effect the descent of the barranca.” 

“ You still adhere to your idea, then ? ” 

" Mcrre than ever ! ” 

" As you please, John Davis, as you please, though you risk your bones 
Cn such a black night as this.” 

** I trust in Heaven, and I hope it will protect me.” 

" I hope so too, for your sake.” 

Red Ruperto then went off, followed by twenty borderers, and soon dis- 
appeared in the darkness. The descent John Davis was about to make was 
anything but easy. The American was too experienced a wood-ranger not 
to know this, and hence took all proper precautions. He placed in his belt his 
knife and a wide and strong axe, and fastened round his waist a rope formed of 
several Three men seized the end of the rope, which they turned round 

the stem of a tree, so as to let it out gently whenever the American desired it. 
As a final precaution, he lit a branch of ocote wood, which was to serve as a 
torch during his perilous descent, for the sky was so perfectly black, it was 
impossible to see anything two paces away. His last measures taken, with the 
coolness that distinguishes men of his race, the North American pressed the 
hands held out to him, tried once again to restore hope to his comrades by a 
few hearty words, and kneeling on the brink of the abyss, began slowly descend- 
ing. John Davis was a man of tried courage, his life had been one continued 
struggle, in which he had only triumphed through his strength of will and 
energy ; still, when he was being lowered into the barranca, he felt chilled to 
the heart, and could not repress a slight start of terror, which ran over all his 
limbs like an electric flash. 

Although he was fastened round the waist, it was no easy task to go down 
this almost perpendicular wall, to which he was compelled to cling like a 
reptile, clutching at every tuft of grass or shrub he came across, or else he had 
been carried away by the wind, which blew furiously. 

The first minutes were the most terrible ; the feet and hands must grow 
accustomed to the rude task imposed on them, and they only gradually learn to 
find, as it were instinctively, their resting-places. 

John Davis had hardly gone ten yards down, ere he found himself on a wide 
ledge covered with thick shrubs. Lighting himself by the torch, the American 
carefully examined this species of esplanade, which was about a dozen paces in 
circumference, and perceived that the tops of the thick shrubs which covered 
it had been broken as if they had received a tremendous blow. 

Davis looked around him. He soon concluded that this enormous gap could 
only have been made by the fall of heavy bodies ; this remark gave him hope, 
for at so slight a distance from the mouth of the abyss, the two enemies must 
have been full of life ; the rapidity of their fall must have naturally been 
arrested by the shrubs ; they might have met at various distances similar 
obstacles, and consequently have undergone several comparatively harmless 
falls. 

John Davis continued his descent ; the slope became constantly less 
abrupt, and the adventurer met, not only shrubs, but clumps of trees, grouped 
here and there. Still, as John Davis found no further traces, a fear fell upon 
bini, and painfully contracted his heart ; he was afraid, lest the shrubs, through 
their elasticity, might have hurled the two unhappy men into space, instead of 


The Freebootersz 


j6 


letting them follow the slope of the precipice. This thought so powerfully 
occupied the American’s mind, that a deep discouragement seized upon him, 
and for some moments he remained without strength or will, crouching sadly on 
the ground. 

But Davis was a man of too energetic a character to give way for any length 
of time to despair : he soon raised his head, and looked boldly around him. 

“ I must go on,” he said in a firm voice. But, at the same moment, he 
suddenly gave a start of surprise, and, uttering a loud cry, rushed quickly 
toward a black mass, to which he had hitherto paid but slight attention. 

The white-headed eagle, the most powerful and cleverest of birds, ordinarily 
builds its nest on the sides of barrancas, at the top of the loftiest trees, and 
chiefly those denuded of branches to a considerable height. This nest, strongly 
built, is composed of sticks from three to five feet long, fastened together and 
covered with Spanish beard, a species of cryptogamic plant of the lichen 
family, wild grass, and large patches of turf. When the nest is completed, it 
measures from six to seven feet in diameter, and at times the accumulation of 
materials is so considerable — for the same nest is frequently occupied for a 
number of years, and receives augmentations each season — that its depth 
equals its diameter. As the nest of the white-headed eagle is very heavy, it is 
generally placed in the centre of a fork formed by the fortuitous meeting of 
several large branches. 

John Davis, by the help of his torch, had just discovered a few yards from 
him, and almost on a level with the spot where he was standing, an eagle’s nest, 
built on the top of an immense tree, whose trunk descended for a considerable 
depth in the precipice. 

Two bodies were lying stretched across this nest, and the American only 
required one glance to assure himself that they were those of the Jaguar and the 
Mexican captain still fast locked in each other’s arms. 

It was not an easy undertaking to reach this nest, which was nearly ten yards 
from the edge of the precipice ; but John Davis, now that he had found the 
body of his chief, was determined to learn, at all risks, whether he were 
alive or dead. But what means was He to employ to acquire this certainty ? 
how reach the tree, which oscillated violently with every gust ? After some 
thought, the American recognised the fact that he could never climb the tree 
alone ; he therefore placed his hands funnel-wise to his mouth, and gave the 
shout agreed on. After half an hour of unheard-of fatigue, Davis found himself 
again among his comrades. 

The Border Rifles crowded round eagerly to learn the details of his expe- 
dition, which he hastened to give them, and which were received with shouts of 
joy by all. Then happened a thing which proves how great was the affection all 
these men bore their chief ; without exchanging a word, all procured torches, 
and, as if obeying the same impulse, began descending the abyss. 

Thanks to the multiplicity of torches, which spread abroad sufficient light, and, 
before all, thanks to the skill of these men, accustomed since childhood to run 
about the forests, and clamber up rocks and precipices in sport, this descent was 
effected without any further misfortunes, and the whole band was soon assembled 
at the spot whence the American had first discovered the nest of the white- 
headed eagle. 

All was in the same state as Davis left it : the two bodies were still motionless, 
and still intertwined. Were they dead, or had they fainted ? Such was the 
question all asked themselves, and no one could answer. All at once a loud 
noise was heard, and the bottom of the barranca was illumined by a number of 
torches, Ruperto’s party had reached the spot. Guided by the flashes they 


Two Enemies, 


I? 


saw running along the sides of the precipice, they soon discovered the 
nest. 

The arrival of Ruperto and his comrades was a great comfort, for now nothing 
would be more easy than to reach the nest. Four powerful men, armed with 
axes, glided along the side of the precipice to the foot of the tree, which they 
began felling with hurried strokes, while John Davis and hi'' men threw their 
reatas round the top branches of the tree, and gradually drew it towards them. 
It began gracefully bending, and at len^h lay on the side of the barranca, 
without receiving any very serious shock. 

John Davis immediately entered the nest, and drawing his knife from his 
belt, bent over the body of the Jaguar, and put the blade to his lips. There was 
a moment of profound anxiety for these men ; their silence was so complete, 
that the beating of their hearts might be heard. They stood with their eyes 
fixed on the American, daring scarcely to breathe, and, as it were, hanging on 
his lips. At length John rose, and placed the knife near a tordh ; the blade was 
slightly tarnished. 

“ He lives, brothers, he lives 1 ” he shouted. 

The Border Rifles at once broke out into such a howl of joy, that the night- 
birds, startled in their gloomy hiding-places, rose on all sides, and began flying 
backwards and forwards, uttering discc 'dant and deafening cries. But this was 
not all : the next point was to get the Jaguar out of the precipice, and let him 
down into the gorge. We have said that the two bodies were intertwined. The 
adventurers felt but little sympathy for Captain Melendez, the primary cause of 
the catastrophe which had so nearly proved fatal to the Jaguar ; hence they were 
not at all eager to assure themselves whether he were dead or alive ; and when 
the moment arrived to find means for conveying the body of their chief into 
the barranca, a very serious and stormy discussion arose as to the Mexican 
officer. The majority of the adventurers were of opinion that the easiest way 
of separating the two bodies was by cutting off the captain’s arms, and throwing 
his body into the abyss, to serve as food for wild beasts. Those who were more 
excited talked about stabbing him at once, so as to make quite sure he did not 
recover. Some even had seized their knives to carry out this resolution. 

Stop 1 ” shouted John Davis, “ the Jaguar lives ; he is still your chief, so 
leave him to treat this man as he thinks proper. Who knows whether the life 
of this officer may not be more valuable to us than his death ? ” 

The adventurers were not easily induced to spare the captain. Still, owing 
to the influence he enjoyed with the band, Davis succeeded in making them 
listen to reason. 


CHAPTER IV. 

TWO ENEMIES. 

The hesitation of the Border Rifles was brief: for these half-savage men, an 
obstacle to be overcome was only a stimulus. The two wounded men, securely 
fastened on cross-pieces of wood by reatas, were let down one after the other to 
the boUoni of the precipice, and laid on the bank of a small stream, which ran 
noiselessly through the plain. John Davis, fearing some outbreak on the part 
of his angry comrades, himself undertook to let the captain down, in order to 
be certain that no accident would happen to him. 


The Freelooiers, 


j5 


When the wounded men had been removed from the eagle’s nest, the adven* 
turers glided along the cliff with marvellous rapidity, and the whole band \va 
soon collected on the bank of the stream. As is frequently the case in a 
mountainous country, the bottom of the barranca was a rather wide prairie, 
sheltered between tuo lofty hills, which enclosed it on the right and left, thus 
forming a species of gorge, which, at the spot where the fight took place, was a 
gulf of great depth, 

John Davis, without losing an instant, did all he could for the Jaguar ; while 
Ruperto, though much against the grain, did the same for the Mexican 
captain. 

Meanwhile the night had slipped away, and the sun rose as the adventurers 
completed their perilous descent. The landscape then resumed its real aspect, 
and what had appeared by the flickering light of the torches a desolate and arid 
desert became a charming and smiling appearance. 

The sun has enormous power over the human organisation : it not only dispels 
those sombre phantoms which are produced by darkness, but also restores to the 
body and mind their elasticity and vigour. With day, hope and joy returned to 
the heart of the adventurers ; a joy rendered more lively still by the sight of the 
gold -chests hurled over the previous night by the Mexicans, and which though 
crushed by their fall, had lost none of their precious contents. 

The prairie soon assumed a lively aspect, to which it certainly was not accus- 
tomed ; the adventurers lit fires, erected jacals, and the camp was formed in a 
few minutes. For a very lengthened period Davis’ efforts to bring his friend to 
life remained sterile ; still, the Jaguar had received no wound ; he did not seem 
to have a limb broken ; his syncope resulted solely from the moral effect of his 
horrible fall. 

“ At length he is saved ! ” the American suddenly exclaimed, joyously. 

The adventurers surrounded their chief, anxiously watching his every move- 
ment. The young man soon opened his eyes again, and, helped by Davis, 
managed to sit up. A slight patch of red was visible on his cheek-bones, but 
the rest of his face retained an ashen hue. He looked slowly round him, and 
the wild expression erf his glance gradually gave way. “ Drink I ” he muttered 
in a hollow and inarticulate voice. 

John Davis uncorked his flask, bent over the wounded man, and placed it to 
his lips. The latter drank eagerly for two or three minutes, and then stopped 
with a sigh of relief. 

“ I fancied I was dead,” he said, “ Is Captain Melendez still alive ? ” 

Yes.” 

“ What state is he in ? ’ 

“No worse than your own.” 

“ All the better.” 

“ Shall we hang him ? ” Ruperto remarked, still adhering to his notion. 

“ On your life,” the Jaguar shouted, “ not a hair of his head must fall ; yon 
Rnswer for him to me, body for body.” 

And he added in a low voice, unintelligible by his hearers, “ I swore it.” 

“ ’Tis a pity,” Ruperto went on. “ I am certain that hanging a Mexican 
captain would have produced an excellent effect.” 

The Jaguar made an angry gesture. 

“ All right,” the adventurer continued ; “ if it is not pleasant to you, we will 
say no more about it.” 

“ Enough,” the young man said ; “ I have given my orders.” 

•* That’s enough. Don’t be angry, captain ; you shall be obeyed.” 

And Ruperto went off, growling, to see about the wounded man confided tO 


Two Er.emies. 


*9 


Ns cnre. Or. approaching the spot where the captain was laid, he could not 
testrair a cry or surprise. 

*• By Jupiter,” he said, “ that's a fellow who can boast of having a tough life, 
at any rate.” 

Either through the coolness of the morning breeze or some other cause, the 
captain had regained his senses. 

" Hilloh ! ” the adventurer exclaimed, as he came up. “ You seem better.” 

Yes,” the officer answered laconically. 

You will soon be cured, I can see ; still, I may ^ell you that you had a very 
narrow escape.” 

‘‘ Where am I ? ” 

Don’t you see ? In a superb prairie, on the bank of a limpid stream,’’ 
replied the adventurer. 

“ Let us have no insolence, fellow, but answer my questions plainly.” 

“ You can, I suppose, recognise a borderers’ camp.” 

•* Then I am in the power of bandits? ” 

“ Rather so,” Ruperto replied, mockingly. 

Tell me the name of the chief whose prisoner I am ? ” 

“The Jaguar.” 

“ What ! ” the captain exclaimed ; “ is he not dead ? ” 

“ Why should he be, since you are alive ? That seems to annoy you, does it? 
Still I must do you the justice of saying, that you did all you could to kill him; 
and if he be alive, on the word of a man, you have not the least cause to re- 
proach yourself.” 

These words were accompanied by a sarcastic grin, which excited the 
captain’s anger. 

“ Does your chief wish to impose a fresh torture on me,” he said, “by sending 
you to insult me ? 

“ You misunderstand his kindly intentions ; he ordered me to watch over 
your health, and offer you the most touching attentions,” Ruperto answered, 
\ronically. 

“ Then leave me, for 1 do not want your help ; I seek nothing but repose.” 

“ As you please, my officer ; settle matters as you think proper. From the 
moment you refuse my assistance, I wash my hands of all that may happen, and 
withdraw ; I do not care about your company.” 

And after giving the captain an ironic bow, the adventurer turned on his 
heel. 

“ What a pity,” he muttered, “ the captain will not permit that charming 
young man to be hung ! ” 

As soon as he was alone, Captain Melendez let his head fall on his hands, 
and tried to arrange his ideas, which the shock he had received had utterly 
disorganised. Still he gradually yielded to a species of lethargy, the natural 
result of his fall, and soon fell into a deep sleep. 

He slept peacefully for several hours, nothing happening to disturb his repose; 
and when he awoke he found himself quite a new man ; the restorative he had 
enjoyed had completely rested his nervous system, his strength had returned, 
and it was with an indescribable feeling of joy that he rose and walked a fe\^ 
steps on the prairie. With calmness of mind, courage returned, and he was 
ready to recommence the contest. 

Ruperto now returned with some provisions in a basket. The adventurei 
offered them to the captain with rough politeness, in which, however, the desire 
to be agreeable was perceptible. The captain readily accepted the food, and 
ate with an appetite that surprised himself after so serious a fall. 


Ttie Freebooters, 


20 


** Well,” Ruperto remarked, “ did I not tell you that you would soon oe alt 
right ? it is just the same with the captain — he is as fresh as a fioripondio aiiu 
was never better in his life.” 

“Tell me, my friend,” Don Juan answered, “may I be allowed to speaic 
with the chief ? ” 

“ Yes, and he even ordered me to ask you if you would allow him an inter- 
view after dinner.” 

“ Most heartily ; lam entirely at his orders; especially,” the captain added 
with a smile, “ since I am his prisoner.” 

“ That is true ; well, eat quietly, and while you are doing so I will convey 
your message.” 

Hereupon Ruperto left the captain, who did not require the invitation to be 
repeated, but vigorously attacked the provisions placed before him. His meal 
was soon over, and he had been walking up and down for some time, when he 
saw the Jaguar approach. The two men bowed ceremoniously, and examined 
each other for some moments with the greatest attention. 

Up to this moment they had hardly seen one another ; their interview of the 
previous evening had taken place in the darkness, and then both had fought 
obstinately ; but they had found no time to form mutual opinions as they now 
did with the infallible glance of men who are accustomed to judge in a second 
persons with whom they have dealings. The Jaguar was first to break the 
silence. 

“You will excuse, caballero,” he said, “the rusticity of my reception; 
banished men have no other palace save the dome of the forests that shelter 
them.” 

The captain bowed. 

“ I was far from expecting,” he said, “ so much courtesy from — ” 

He stopped, not daring to utter the word that rose to his lips, through fear 
of offending the other. 

“From bandits, I suppose, captain?” the Jaguar replied, with a smile. 
“ Oh, no denial, I know what we are called at Mexico. Yes, caballero, at the 
present day we are outlaws, border-ruffians, freebooters ; to-morrow, perhaps, 
we shall be heroes and saviours of a people ; but so the world wags ; but never 
mind that. You wish to speak to me.” 

“ Did you not also evince a desire, caballero, to have an interview with 
me?” 

“ I did ; I have only one question to ask you, though — will you answer it?” 

“ On my honour, if it be possible.” 

The Jaguar reflected, and then continued — 

“ You hate me, I suppose ? ” 

“ What makes you imagine that ? ” 

“ How do I know ? ” the Jaguar replied, with embarrassment ; “ a thousand 
reasons, as, for instance, the obstinacy with which you sought to take my life a 
few hours agone.” 

The captain drew himself up, and his face assumed a stern expression which 
it had not worn hitherto. 

“ I pledge you my word to be frank,” he said, 

“ I thank you beforehand.” 

“ Between yourself and me, personally, no hatred can exist — at any rate, not 
on my side ; I do not know you, I only saw you yesterday for the first time ; 
never to my knowledge have you come across my path before, hence I have no 
reason to hate you. But beside the man there is the soldier ; as an officer in the 
Mexican army — ” 


Two Efiemies, 


ai 


''•Enough, captain,” the young man sharply interrupted him ; “ you have told 
me all I wished to know ; political hatreds, however terrible they may be, aro 
ijo! eternal. You do your duty as I do mine — that is to say, as well as you 
possibly can, and to that I have no objection. Unfortunately, instead of fight- 
ing side by side, we are in opposite camps ; but who knows whether we may 
net some day be friends ? ” 

“ We are so already, caballero,” the captain said, warmly, as he held out his 
hand to the Jaguar. 

The latter pressed it vigorously. 

“ Let us each follow the road traced for us,” he said ; “ but if we fight for a 
different idea, let us maintain, while the contest is raging, that esteem and 
friendship which two loyal enemies ought to feel, who have measured their 
swords and found them of equal length.” 

“ Agreed,” said the captain. 

One word more,” the Jaguar continued. “ I must respond to your frankness 
by equal frankness.” 

“ Speak.” 

“ I presume that the question I asked surprised you P ” 

“ 1 confess it.” 

“ Well, I will tell you why I asked it.” 

“ What good will that do ? ” 

“ I must ; between us two there must be nothing hidden. In spite of the 
hatred I ought to feel for you, I am attracted to you by a secret sympathy, 
which I cannot explain, but which urges me to reveal to you a secret on which 
the happiness of my life depends.” 

I do not understand you ; your words appear strange to me. Explain 
yourself.” 

A feverish flush suddenly covered the Jaguar’s face. 

“ Listen, captain ; if you only know me to-day for the first time, your name 
has been ringing in my ears for many months past.” 

The officer gazed at him strangely. 

“Yes, yes,” the Jaguar continued ; “she ever has your name on her lips — 
she only speaks of you. Only a few days back — ^but why recall that P suffice it 
for you to know that I love her to distraction.” 

“ Carmela,” the captain muttered. 

“ Yes,” the Jaguar exclaimed ; “ you love her too ! ” 

“ I do,” the captain replied, simply. 

There was a lengthened silence between the two men. It was easy to discover 
that each of them was having an internal contest ; at length the Jaguar managed 
to quell the storm that growled in his heart, and went on — 

“ Thank you for your straightforward answer, captain ; in loving Carmela 
you take advantage of your right, just as I do; let this love, instead of separating, 
form a stronger link between us. Carmela is worthy of the love of an honest 
man ; let us each love her, and carry on an open warfare, without treachery or 
trickery ; all the better for the man she may prefer. She alone must be judge 
between us ; let her follow her heart, for she is too pure and good to deceive 
herself and make a bad choice.” 

“ Good ! ” the captain exclaimed. “ You are a man after my own heart. 
Jaguar, and whatever may happen, 1 shall always feel happy to have pressed 
your honest hand, and to be counted among your friends. Yes, I love Carmela ; 
tor a smile from her rosy lips I would joyfully lay down my life.” 

“ Viva Cristo ! ” the youn4S man said, “ I was sure we should end by comings 
to an understanding.” 


The Freebooters, 


3d 


** To bring that about,” the captain remarked, with a smile, “we only needed 
an explanation.” 

“ I trust that it will not be repeated under similar conditions, for it is a per- 
fect miracle that we are still alive.” 

“ I am not at all anxious to repeat the experiment.” 

“ Nor I either, that I swear. But the sun is rapidly declining on thehorizer: 
I need not tell you that you are free, and at liberty to go wherever you please, 
if it is not your intention to remain any length of time with us : I have had a 
horse got ready which you will permit me to offer you.” 

“ I gladly accept it : I do not wish to have any false pride with you, and 
afoot in these regions, which are quite strange to me, I should feel greatly em- 
barrassed.” 

“ That need not trouble you, for I will give you a guide to accompany you, 
till you get in the right road.” 

“ A thousand thanks.” 

“ Where do you propose going ? Of course, if my question be indiscreet, I 
do not expect you to answer.” 

“ I have nothing to hide from you ; I intend joining General Rubio as quickly 
as possible, to whom I must report the accident that has happened to the con- 
ducta de plata, about which I do not reproach you.” 

“ Had it been possible to save the conducta by courage and devotion, you 
would have doubtless done it.” 

“ I thank you for this praise. But now I must be off.” 

The Jaguar made a signal to a borderer standing a short distance off. 

“ The captain’s horse,” he said. 

Five minutes later this borderer, who was no other than Ruperto, reappeared, 
leading two horses, one of which was a magnificent mustang, with delicate 
limbs and flashing eye. The captain reached the saddle at one leap, and 
Ruperto was already mounted. The two enemies, henceforth friends, shook 
hands for the last time, and after an affectionate parting, the captain started. 

** Mind, no tricks, Ruperto I ” the Jaguar said, in a stern voice to the adventurer. 

**A11 right, all right! ” the latter growled in reply. 


CHAPTER V. 

GENERAL RUBIO. 

General Don Jose Maria Rubio was in no way distinguished from the gene- 
rality of ignorant Mexican officers, but he possessed over those who surrounded 
him the immense advantage of being a soldier of the war of Independence, and 
in him experience amply compensated for his lack of education. His histO'*y 
may be told in a few words. 

Son of an evangelista, or public writer, at Tampico, he had learned to read 
and write under the auspices of his father ; this pretence at education was 
destined to be of great utility to him at a later date. The great uprising, of 
which the celebrated Fray Hidalgo was the promoter, and which inaugurated 
the revolution, found young Jose Maria wandering about the neighbourhood of 
Tampico, where he gained a livelihood by the most heterogeneous trades. The 
young man — a little bit of a muleteer, a little bit of a fisherman, and a good 
deal of a smuggler — intoxicated by the smell of gunpowder, and fascinated by 
the omnipotent influence Hidalgo exercised over all those who approached hiio, 


General Rulio 




thrrw his gim over bis shoulder, mounted the first horse he came across, and 
tnned the revolutionary band. From that mement his life was only one long 
succession of combats. 

He became in a short time, thanks to his courage, energy, and presence of 
mind, one of the most formidable guerillas. Always the first in attack, the 
last to retreat, chief of a cuadrilla composed of picked men, to whom the most 
danng and wild expeditions appeared but child’s play, and favoured by constant 
good luck — for fortune ever loves the rash — Jose Maria soon became a terror to 
the Spaniards. After serving in turn under all the heroes of the Mexican war 
of Independence, and fighting bravely by their side, peace found him a brigadier- 
general. 

General Rubio was not ambitious ; he was a brave and honest soldier, who 
loved his profession, and who needed to render him happy the roll of the drum, 
the lustre of arms, and military life in its fullest extent. When he fought, the 
idea never occurred to him that the war would end some day or other ; and 
hence he was quite surprised and perfectly demoralised when peace was pro- 
claimed. 

The worthy general looked round him. Everybody was preparing to retire 
to the bosom of his family, and enjoy a dearly-purchased repose. Don Jose 
Maria might perhaps have desired nothing better than to follow the example* 
but his family was the army. During the ten years’ fighting which had just 
elapsed, the general had completely lost sight of all the relations he ever 
possessed. His father, whose death he learned accidentally, was the sole person 
whose influence might have brought him to abandon a military career ; but the 
paternal hearth was cold. Nothing attracted him home, and he therefore re- 
mained under the banner, though not through ambition. The worthy soldier 
did himself justice, and recognised the fact that he had attained a position far 
superior to any he might ever have dared to desire. 

At the period when the Texans began agitating and claiming their independ- 
ence, the Mexican government, deceived at the outset by the agents appointed 
to watch that state, sent insufficient forces to re-establish order, and crush the 
insurgents ; but the movement soon assumed such a distinctly revolutionary 
character, that the president found it urgent to make an effective demonstration. 
Unfortunately it was too late ; the dissatisfaction had spread ; it was no longer a 
question of suppressing a revolt, but stifling a revolution. 

The troops sent to Texas were beaten and driven back on all sides ; but the 
government could not, and would not, accept such a dishonouring check inflicted 
by badly-armed and undisciplined bands, and they resolved to make a last and 
decisive effort. Numerous troops were massed on the Texan frontiers ; and to 
terrify the insurgents, and finish with them at one blow, a grand military de- 
monstration was made. 

But the war then changed its character : the Texans, nearly all North Ameri- 
cans, skilful hunters, indefatigable marchers, and marksmen of proverbial repu- 
tation, broke up into small bands, and instead of offering the Mexican troops a 
front, which would have enabled them to outmanoeuvre and crush them, they 
began a hedge war, full of tricks and ambushes, after the manner of the 
Vendeans. 

The position became more and more critical. The rebels, disciplined, har- 
dened, and strong in the moral support of their fellow-citizens, who applauded 
their successes, and put up vows for them, had boldly raised the flag of Texan 
independence, and after several engagements, in which they decimated the troops 
sent against them, compelled the latter to recognise them as the avowed 
defenders of an honourable cause. 


•4 


The Freebooters* 


Among the numerous generals of the republic, the president at length chosei 
the only man capable of repairing the successive disasters undergone by tne 
government. General Don Jose Maria Rubio was invested with the supreme 
command of the troops detached to act against Texas. 

He at once changed the tactics employed by his predecessors, and adopted a 
system diametrically opposite. Instead of fatiguing his troops by purposeless 
inarches which had no result, he seized on the strongest positions, scattered his 
troops through cantonments, where they supported each other, and in case of 
need could all be assembled under his orders within four-and-twenty hours. 

When these precautions were taken, still keeping his forces in hand, he pni- 
dently remained on the defensive, and instead of marching forward, watched 
with indefatigable patience for the opportunity to fall on the enemy suddenly 
and crush him. 

The Texan chiefs soon comprehended all the danger of these new and skilful 
tactics. In fact, they had changed parts ; instead of being attacked, the 
insurgents were obliged to become the assailants, which made them lose all the 
advantages of their position, by compelling them to concentrate their troops, 
and make a demonstration of strength, contrary to their usual habits of 
fighting. 

The conducta de plata intrusted to Captain Melendez had an immense im- 
portance in the eyes of the needy government of the capital ; the dollars must 
at all hazards reach Mexico in safety. 

General Rubio therefore found himself reluctantly compelled to modify the 
line he had traced ; he did not doubt that the insurgents would make the 
greatest efforts to intercept and seize the conducta, for they also suffered from 
a great want of money. Hence their plans must be foiled and the conducta 
saved. For this purpose the general collected a large body of troops, placed 
himself at their head, and advanced by forced marches to the entrance of the 
defile, where, from the reports of his spies, he knew that the insurgents were 
ambuscaded ; then, as we have seen, he sent off a sure man (or whom he sup- 
posed to be) to Captain Melendez, to warn him of his approach, and put him 
on his guard. 

We have narrated what took place. 

The Mexican camp stood in the centre of a beautiful plain, facing the defile 
through which the conducta must pass, according to the general’s instructions. 
It was evening, and the sun had set for about an hour. Don Jose Maria, ren- 
dered anxious by the captain’s delay, had sent off scouts in different directions 
to bring him news, and a prey to an agitation, which each moment that passed 
augmented, was walking anxiously about his tent, cursing and swearing in a 
low voice, frowning and stopping every now and then to listen. 

General Don Jose Maria Rubio was still a young man ; he was about forty- 
two, though he seemed older, through the fatigues of a military life, which had 
left rude marks on his martial and open countenance ; he was tall and well- 
ouilt ; his muscular limbs, his wide and projecting chest, denoted great vigour; 
and though his close-shaven hair was beginning to turn grey, his black eye 
had a brilliancy full of youth and intelligence. 

Contrary to the habits of Mexican general officers, who make a great display 
of embroidery, and are gilded and plumed like charlatans, his uniform had a 
simplicity and severity which added to his military appearance. 

-A'Sabre and a pair of holster-pistols were carelessly thrown across a map on 
the table in' the centre of the room. The gallop of a horse, at first distant, but 
which rapidly drew nearer, was heard. The sentinel outside the tent challenged, 

Who goes there ?” 


The Hunters* Council, 


»5 


'? Ae horseman stopped, and a moment later the curtain of the tent was thrust 
as'oe. and a man appeared. 

it was Captain Don Juan Melendez. 

“ Here you are, at last !” the general exclaimed. 

riien noticing the expression of sorrow spread over the officer s features, the 
general's face again assumed an anxious look. 

*• Oh, oh !” he said, “ what can have happened? Captain, has any mishap 
)ccurred to the conducta ?” 

The officer bowed his head. 

What is the meaning of this, sir?” the general continued angrily; “have 
/ou suddenly grown dumb ? ” 

No, general,” answered the captain. 

“The conducta ! where is the conducta ?” he went on, violently. 

'"‘Captured 1” Don Juan replied, in a hollow voice. 

“ Viva Dios !” the general shouted ; “ the conducta captured, and yourself 
alive to bring the news ? ” 

“ I could not get myself killed.” 

“ By Heaven, I really believe,” the general said, ironically, “ that you have not 
even received a scratch.” 

“ It is true.” 

The general walked up and down the tent. “ And your soldiers,” he went 
on, a minute later, “ I suppose they fled at the first shot ? ” 

“ My soldiers are dead, general.” 

“ What do you say ?” 

“ I say, general, that my soldiers fell to the last man defending the trust con- 
fided to their honour.” 

“ Hum, hum ! ” the general remarked, “ all dead ? ” 

“ Yes, general ; all lie in a bloody grave ; I am the only survivor of fifty brave 
and devoted men.” 

There was a second silence. The general knew the captain too well to doubt 
h;s courage and honour. He began to suspect a mystery. 

“ But I sent you a guide,” he at length said. 

• Ves, general, and it was he who led us into ttie trap laid by the insurgents.” 

“ A thousand demons 1 if the scoundrel ” 

“ He is dead,” said the captain ; “ I killed him.” 

“ Good. But there is something about the affair I cannot understand.” 

‘‘ General,” the young man exclaimed, “ though the conducta is lost, the fight 
was glorious for the Mexican name. Our honour has not suffered.” 

“ Come, captain, you are one of those men above suspicion, whom not the 
slightest stain can affect. If necessary, I would go bail for your loyalty and 
bravery before the world. Report to me frankly all that has happened, and I 
W'.ll believe you ; give me the fullest details about this action, in order that I 
may know whether I have to pity or punish you.” 

The captain bowed, and began an exact report of what had taken place. 


CHAPTER VI. 

THE HUNTERS* COUNCIL, 

Wk will row return to Tranquil. The Canadian had left his friends two 
musket- shots from the Texan encampment, intending, were it required, to call 


36 


The Freebooters, 


in Carmela: but that was not necessary; the young man, though unwiUIn**'y, 
had consented to all the Canadian asked of him, with which tne latter was 
delighted, for without knowing exactly why, he would have been sorry to faciu- 
tate an interview between the young people. 

Immediately after his conversation with the leader of the Freebooters. 
hunter rose and left the camp. He then remounted his horse and returned 
thoughtfully to the spot where his friends were camping. The latter were 
awaiting him anxiously, and Carmela especially was suffering from a terrible 
uneasiness. 

It was a strange fact, which women alone can explain, that the maiden, 
perhaps unconsciously, entertained toward the Jaguar and Captain Melendez 
feelings which she was afraid to analyse, but which led her to take an equal 
interest in the fate of those two men, and fear a collision between them, what- 
ever the result might have proved. 

Was it friendship, or was it love? Who can answer? 

Tranquil found his friends located in a narrow clearing, near a fire, over which 
their next meal was cooking. Carmela, a little apart, watched the path by 
which she knew the hunter must return. So soon as she perceived him, she 
uttered a suppressed cry of delight, and made a movement to run and meet 
him; but she checked 'herself with a flush, let her head droop, and concealed 
herself timidly behind a clump of floripondios. 

Tranquil peacefully dismounted, took the bridle off his horse, and then sat 
down by the side of Loyal Heart. 

“ Ouf ! ” he said, “ here I am, back again.” 

Did you run any dangers ? ” Loyal Heart asked. 

“ Not at all; on he contrary, the Jaguar received me as a friend; and I have 
only to complain of his courtesy. 

Carmela had softly come up to the hunter; and, bending her head down to 
him, she offered him her forehead to kiss. 

“ Good day, father,” she said demurely; “you have already returned?” 

“ Already ! ” Tranquil answered, as he kissed her and laughed; “hang it, girl, 
it seems as if my absence did not appear to you long.” 

“ You are unkind, father,” she answered, with a pout, “you always give a false 
meaning to what I say.” 

“ Only think of that, senorita! well, do not be in a passion, I have brought 
you good news.” 

“ Speak, speak, father,” she exclaimed eagerly, as she took the seat allotted her. 

“ You seem to take great interest in Captain Melendez ? ” 

“ I, father ! ” she exclaimed with a start of surprise. 

“ Hang it! I fancy a young lady must feel a- lively interest in a person, to take 
such a step for his sake as you have done.” 

The maiden became serious. 

“ Father,” she said, a moment later, “I could not tell you why I acted as I 
did ; I swear that it was against my will : I was mad ; the thought that t^e 
captain and the Jaguar were about to engage in a mortal combat, made me 
chill at heart; and yet I assure you, now that I am cool, I question myself in 
vain to discover the reason which urged me to intercede with you to prevent 
that combat.” 

The hunter shook his head. 

“ All that is not clear, Nina,” he replied; “ I do not at all understand you! 
arguments: but take care, my girl, take care.” 

Carmela pensively leant her blushing brow on the Canadian’s shoulder, ana 
lifted to him her large blue eyes full of tears. 


The Hunter* s Council. 


a? 


J r.oi know why, but my heart is contracted, my bosom is oppressed. 
Oh, I am very unhappy.” 

And hiding her head in her hand, she burst into tears. 

‘iou unhappy!” Tranquil exclaimed as he smote his head passionately. 
“ Oh, whatever has been done to her, that she should weep thus!” 

There was a silence of some minutes’ duration, when the conversation seemed 
to take a confidential turn. Loyal Heart and Lanzi rose quietly, and soon dis- 
appeared in the chapparal. Tranquil and the maiden were hence alone. The 
hunter was suffering from one of those cold fits of passion which are so terrible 
because so concentrated j adoring the girl, he fancied in his simple ignorance 
that it was he who, without suspecting it, through the coarseness and frivolity 
of his manner, rendered her unhappy, and he accused himself in his heart for 
not having secured her that calm and pleasant life he had dreamed for her. 

“ Forgive me, my child,” he said to her with emotion; “forgive me for being 
the involuntary cause of your suffering. You must not be angry with me, for 
really it is no fault of mine; I have always lived alone in the desert, and never 
learned how to treat natures so frail as those of women ; but henceforth I will 
watch myself. You will have no reason to reproach me again. I promise you 
I will do all you wish, my darling child.” 

By a sudden reaction, the maiden wiped away her tears, and bursting into a 
joyous laugh, threw her arms round the hunter’s neck, and kissed hjm re- 
peatedly. 

“ It is you who should pardon me, father,” she said in her wheedling voice, 
“ for I seem to take pleasure in tormenting you, who are so kind to me ; I did 
not know what I was saying just now; I am not unhappy, I do not suffer, I am 
quite happy, and love you dearly, my good father ; I only love you.” 

Tranquil looked at her in alarm; he could not understand these sudden 
changes of humour. 

“ Good Heavens!” he exclaimed, clasping his hands in terror; “my daughter 
is mad ! ” 

At this exclamation, the laughing girl’s gaiety was augmented. 

“ I am not mad, father,” she said ; “ I was so just now when I spoke to you in 
the way I did, but now the crisis has passed ; forgive me, and think no more 
about it.” 

“ Hum !” the hunter muttered ; “I desire nothing more, Nina; but I am no 
further on than I was before, and on my word, I understand nothing of what is 
passing through your mind.” 

“ What matter, so long as I love you, father? all girls are so, and no import* 
ance must be attached to their caprices.” 

“ Good, good, it must be so since you say it, little one.” 

Carrnela lovingly kissed him. 

“And the Jaguar?” she asked. 

“All is arranged; the captain has nothing to fear from him.” 

“ Oh, the Jaguar has a noble heart; if he has pledged his word, he may be 
trusted.” 

“ He has given it me.” 

“ Thanks, father. Well, now that all is arranged according to our wishes — ” 

“ Your wishes ?” the hunter interrupted. 

“ Mine or yours, father — is not that the same thing?” 

“ That is true — I was wrong. Go on.” 

“ Well, I say, call your friends, who are walking about close by, I suppose, 
uiid lei iT.e eat, for I am dying of hunger.” 

The Canadian whistled, and the two men, who probably only awaited thif 


The Freohoiters, 


»8 


signal, made their appearance at once. The venison was removed from t' 
laid on a leaf, and all seated themselves comfortably. 

“ Hilloh 1” Tranquil said all at once, “ why, where is Quoniam r ” 

“ He left us shortly after your departure,” Loyal Heart made ansv.'er, “ t j go 
to the Larch-tree hacienda.” 

“ All right ; but I am not anxious about my old comrade, for he will rcarc'ge 
to find us again.” 

Each then began eating with good appetite, and troubled themselves no 
further about the negro’s absence. 

During the hunters’ meal the sun had set, and night invaded the forest. 
Carmela, exhausted by the various events of the day, retired almost imme- 
diately to a light jacal of leaves which Loyal Heart had built for her. 

When they were alone, the hunters laid in a stock of dead wood, which would 
keep the fire in all night, then, after throwing on some handfuls of dry branches, 
they sat down in Indian fashion, that is to say, with their back to the flame, so 
that their eyes might not be dazzled by the light, and they could distinguish in 
the gloom the arrival of any unwelcome guest, man or wild beast. Wh'=n this 
precaution had been taken, and the rifles laid within hand-reach, they lit their 
pipes and smoked silently. 

The night was cold and clear ; a profusion of light flashed from the millions 
of stars that studded the dark olive sky, and the moon poured on the earth her 
silvery rays, which imparted a fantastic appearance to objects. The atmosphere 
was so pure and transparent, that the eye could distinguish, as in bright day, 
tKe surrounding landscape. Several hours passed thus. 

“ Who will keep watch to-night?” Lanzi at length asked, as he passed the 
stem of his pipe through his belt ; “ we are surrounded by people amongst 
whom it is wise to take precautions.” 

“That is true,” said Loyal Heart; “ do you sleep.” 

“ One moment,” the Canadian said ; “ if sleep does not too greatly overpower 
you, Lanzi, we will profit by Carmela’s absence to hold a council. The situation 
in which we are is intolerable for a girl, and we must make up our minds to 
some course at once. Unluckily, I know not what to do.” 

“ I am at your orders, Tranquil,” Lanzi answered j “ let us hold a council, ar.d 
I will make up for it by sleeping faster.” 

“ Speak, my friend,” said Loyal Heart. 

“ Life,” began the hunter, “ is rough in the desert for delicate natures : we 
men, accustomed to fatigue, and hardened to privations, not only support ’t 
without thinking of it, but even find delight in it.” 

“That is true,” Loyal Heart observed; “but the dangers that men such as 
we can bear, it would be unjust and cruel to inflict on a woman, whose life ha.^ 
hitherto passed exempt from care, privations, or fatigue of any description.” 

“ Yes,” Lanzi supported him. 

“ That is to the point,” Tranquil continued; “though it will cost me a pang 
to part with her, Carmela can no longer remain with us.” 

“ It would kill her,” said Loyal Heart. 

“ It would not take long, poor little darling,” Lanzi pouted. 

“ Yes ; but to whom can I trust her now that the venta is destroyed ?** 

“ It is a difficult point,” Lanzi observed. 

“Stay,” said Loyal Heart, “are you not tigrero to the Larch. tre» 
hacienda?” 

*’ i am.” 

** Well, the master of the hacienda,” Loyal Heart continued, “ will. »0t leju^ 
to receive Carmela in his house.” 


An Old Friend, 


29 


Tne runrer snook his head in denial. “ No, no,” he said ; “ if I once asked 
Bie favour of him, I feel certain he would consent ; but it cannot be.” 

‘•Why?* 

Because the owner of the Larch-tree is not the man we need to protect a girl,** 

“Hum!” Loyal Heart said; “our situation is growing complicated, for I 
iciiow nobody else who would take charge of her.” 

“ Nor I either, and that is what vexes me.” 

“ Listen 1 ” Loyal Heart suddenly exclaimed. I do not know, Heaven 
pardon me, where my head was that I did not think of it at once. Do not be 
alarmed ; I know somebody.” 

“ Speak, speak.” 

“ Come,” the half-breed said aside, “ this Loyal Heart is really a capital 
fellow, for he is full of good ideas.” 

“ For reasons too long to tell you,” the young man 'ontinued, “ I am not 
alone in the desert, for my mother and an old servant of my family live about 
three hundred miles from where we now are with a tribe of Comanches, whose 
chief adopted me a few years back. My mother is kind, she loves me madly, 
and will be delighted to treat your charming child as a daughter. Coming with 
me, the Indians will receive you kindly, and my mother will thank you for con- 
fiding your daughter to her.” 

“ Loyal Heart,” the Canadian answered, with emotion, *‘your offer is that of 
an honest, upright man. I accept it as frankly as you make it ; by the side of 
your mother my daughter will be happy, and she will have nothing to fear. 
Thanks. When do we start?” the Canadian asked. 

“ The road is a long one,” Loyal Heart answered. “ We have more than 
three hundred miles to ride ; Carmela is exhausted by the fatigue she has 
endured for some time past, and perhaps we should do well to grant her a day 
or two of rest.” 

“ Yes, you are right ; this journey, which would be as nothing to us, is 
enormous for a girl ; let us remain here a couple of days — the camp is good, 
and the spot well selected.” 

“ During the time we spend here our horses too will regain their fire and 
vigour, ?Lnd we can profit by the rest to get some provisions together.” 

** Very good,” Tranquil said, with a smile. “ So now, good night, brother.” 

Good night ! ” Loyal Heart answered, and, lying down, was soon sound 
asleep. Tranquil, however, required to isolate himself for some hours, in 
order to go over the events which during the last few days had fallen upon him 
so unexpectedly, and broken up that placidity of life to which he had grown 
a< customed. 

The hours passed away, but the hunter felt no desire for sleep. The stars 
i^vere beginning to pale, the horizon was crossed by pale bands, the breeze grew 
colder and colder ; all foreboded, in fact, the approach of dawn, when suddenly 
a plight noise, resembling that produced by the fracture of a dry bough, sn/ottf 
ou cne hunter’s practised ear, and caused him to start. 


CHAPTER VII. 

AN OLD FRIEND. 

Tranquil was too old and too crafty a wood-ranger to let himself be surprise*^. 
With his eyes obstinately fixed on the spot whence the sound had come, ho 


30 


The Freebooters^ 


tried to pierce the darkness, and distinguish any movement in the chappar*!, 
which would permit him to form probable conjectures as to the visitors wno 
were approaching. 

For some time the noise was not repeated, and the desert had fallen back into 
sfierxce. But the Canadian did not deceive himself. Up to all Indian tricks, 
and knowing the unbounded patience of the red-skins, he continued to keep on 
his guard ; still, as he suspected that in the darkness searching glances were 
fixed on him and spying his slightest movements. Tranquil yawned twice or 
thrice, as if overcome by sleep, drew back the hand he had laid on his rifle- 
barrel, and pretending to be unable to resist sleep any longer, he let his head 
sink on his chest. 

Nothing stirred. An hour elapsed and still Tranquil felt confident that he 
had not deceived himself. The sky grew brighter, the last star had disappeared, 
the horizon was assuming those fiery tints which immediately precede the 
appearance of the sur. the Canadian, weary of this long watching, and not 
knowing to what he should attribute this inaction on the part of the red-skins, 
resolved at last to obtain the solution of the enigma. He therefore started 
suddenly to his feet and took up his rifle. 

At the same moment a noise of footsteps, mingled with the rustling of leaves 
and the breaking of dry branches, smote his ear. 

“Ah, ah!” the Canadian muttered; “it seems they have made up their 
mind at last.” 

Then a clear feminine voice rose harmoniously and sonorously from the wood. 
Tranquil stopped with a start of surprise. This voice was singing an Indian 
melody. 

“ I confide my heart to thee in the name of the Omnipotent. 

I am unhappy, and no one takes pity on me ; 

Still God is great in my eyes,” 

“'Oh I ” the hunter muttered, “ I know that song, it is that of the betrothed of 
the Snake Pawnees. How is it that these words strike my ear so far from their 
hunting-grounds ? Can a detachment of Pawnees be wandering in the 
neighbourhood ? 

Without further hesitation the hunter walked hurriedly toward the thicket, 
from the centre of which the melody had been audible. But at the moment he 
was about to enter it, the shrubs were quickly parted and two red -skins entered 
th<^. clearing. 

On coming within ten paces of the hunter the Indians stopped and stretched 
their arms out in front of them, with fingers parted in sign of peace ; tnen, 
crossing their arms on their chest, they waited. At this manifestation of the 
peaceful sentiments of the new comers, the Canadian rested the butt of kis rifle 
on tne ground, and examined the Indians with a rapid glance. 

'^he first was a man of lofty stature, with intelligent features and open 
rountenance ; as far as it was possible to judge the age of an Indian, he 
seemed to have passed the middle stage of life. He was dressed in his full 
war-paint, and the condor plume, fastened above his right ear, indicated that 
he reld the rank of a sachem. 

I he other red-skin was a woman of twenty at the most ; she was slim, active, 
and elegant, and her dress was decorated in accordance with the rules of Indian 
coquetry : still her worn features, on which only the fugitive traces of a 
prematurely vanished beauty were visible, showed that, like all Indian squaws, 
she had been pitilessly compelled to do all those rude household tasks, which 
the Wien regard as beneath their dignity. 


Jn Old Friend, 


3 * 


At the sight of these two persons the hunter felt an emotion for whinh 
could not account ; the more he regarded the warrior standing before m’m ch** 
more he seemed to find again in this martial countenance the distant me?acry 
of the features of a man he had formerly known, though it was impossible for 
him to recall how or where this intimacy had existed ; but overconrdng his 
feelings, and comprehending that his lengthened silence must appear exfra- 
ordinary to the persons who had been waiting so long for him to address to them 
the compliments of welcome which Indian etiquette demands, he at length 
decided on speaking. 

The sachem can approach without fear and take his seat by the fire of a 
friend,” he said. 

“ The voice of the pale hunter rejoices the heart of the chief,” the warrior 
said ; “ he will smoke the calumet of friendship with the pale hunter.” 

The Canadian bowed politely ; the sachem gave his squaw a sign to follow 
him, and he crouched on his heels in front of the fire, where Loyal Heart and 
Lanzi were still asleep. Tranquil and the warrior then began smoking silently 
while the young Indian squaw was busily engaged with the household duties and 
preparing the morning meal. 

There was a lengthened silence. The hunter was reflecting, while the Indian 
was apparently completely absorbed by his pipe. At last he shook the ash out 
of the calumet, thrust the stem through his belt, and turned to his host. 

“ The walkon and the maukawis,” he said, “ always sing the same song ; 
the man who has heard them during the moons of spring recognises them in 
the moons of winter. It is not the same with man ; he forgets quickly ; his 
heart does not bound at the recollection of a friend.” 

“ What does the chief mean ? ” the other asked, astonished at these words, 
which seemed to convey a reproach. 

“ The Wacondah is powerful,” the Indian continued ; “ it is he who dictates 
the words my breast breathes ; the sturdy oak forgets that he has been a frail 
sapling.” 

“ Explain yourself, chief,” the hunter said, with great agitation ; “ the sound 
of your voice causes me singular emotion ; your features are not unknown to me; 
speak, who are you ? ” 

“ Singing-bird,” the Indian said, addressing the young woman, “ you are the 
cihuatl of a sachem ; ask the great pale hunter why he has forgotten his 
friend ? ” 

“ I will obey,” she answered, in a melodious voice; “ but the chief is deceived; 
the great pale hunter has not forgotten the Wah-rush-a-menec.” 

“ Oh I ” Tranquil exclaimed, “are you really Black-deer, my brother? my 
heart warned me secretly of your presence, and though your features hr.d 
almost faded from my memory, I expected to find a friend again.” 

Wah I is the pale-face speaking the truth ?” the chief said, with emotier); 
“has he really retained the memory of his brother. Black-deer? ” 

•* Ah, chief,” the hunter said, sadly ; “ to doubt any longer would be an in. nl^ 
to me ; how could I expect to meet you here, at such a distance from tiie wig- 
wams of your nation ? ” 

“ That is true,” the Indian remarked, thoughtfully. 

“And,” Tranquil continued, “is that charming squaw I see there, the Singing* 
bird, that frail child whom I so often tossed on my knee ? ” 

“ Singing-bird is the wife of a chief,” the Indian answered, flattered by the 
compliment ; “ at the next fall of the leaves forty-five moons will have passed 
since Black-deer bought her of her father for two mustangs and a panther-sH**^ 
ouWer.** 


The Frcehooters, 




Singing-bird smiled, and went On with her duties. 

“ Will the chief permit me to ask how the sachem knew that he would find 
me here ? ” 

“ Black-deer was ignorant of it : he was not seeking the great pale hunter; 
the Wacondah has permitted him to find a friend again, and he is grateful/' 

Tranquil looked at the warrior in surprise. He smiled. 

** Black-deer has no secret from his brother,” he said; “the pale hunter will 
wait; soon he shall know all.” 

“ My brother is free to speak or be silent ; I will wait.” 

At this moment the hunter felt a light hand laid on his shoulder, while a soft 
and affectionate voice murmured in his ear — “ Good morning, father.” 

And a kiss completed the silence. 

“ Good morning, little one,” the hunter replied, with a smile ; “ did you sleep 
well ? ” 

•“ Splendidly, father ; but I see visitors have arrived.” 

“Yes, old friends, who, I hope, will soon be yours.” 

“ Red-skins friends ? ” she whispered. 

“All of them are not wicked,” he answered with a smile : “ these are kind.” 
Then, turning to the Indian woman, who had fixed her black-velvdl eyes on 
Carmela with simple admiration, he called out, “ Singing-bird ! ” 

The squaw bounded up like a young antelope. “ What does my father 
want ? ” she asked, bowing gently. 

“ Singing-bird,” the hunter continued, “ this girl is my daughter, Carmela. 
Love one another like sisters.” 

“ Singing-bird will feel very happy to be loved by the White-lily,” the Indian 
squaw replied. 

Carmela, charmed at the name which the squaw had given her, bent down 
and kissed her forehead. 

“ I love you already, sister,” she said to her, and holding her by the hand, 
they went off together. Tranquil looked after them with a tender glance. Black- 
deer had witnessed this little scene with that Indian phlegm which nothing ever 
disturbs : still, when he found himself alone wkh the hunter, he bent over to 
him, and said in a slightly shaking voice — 

“ Wah ! my brother has not changed : the moons of winter have scattered 
snow over his scalp, but his heart has remained as good as when it was young.*' 

At this moment the sleepers awoke. 

“ Hilloh ! ” Loyal Heart said gaily, as he looked up at the sun, “ I have haA 
a long sleep.” 

“ To tell you the truth,” Lanzi observed, “ I am not an early bird, but I wife 
make up for it. The poor horses must be thirsty, so I will give them water.” 

“ Very good I ” said Tranquil ; “by the time you have done that, breakfast 
will be ready.” 

Lanzi rose, leaped on his horse, and seizing the lasso of the others, went off 
in the direction of the stream without asking questions relative to the strangers. 
On the prairie it is so : a guest is an envoy of God, whose presence must arouse 
no curiosity. In the meanwhile Loyal Heart had also risen: suddenly his glai.re 
fell on the Indian chief ; the young man turned pale as a corpse, and hurriecfi'; 
approached the chief. 

“ My mother ! ” he exclaimed in a voice quivering with emotion, “ my 
mother — ” 

He could say no more. The Pawnee bowed peacefully to him. 

“ My brother’s mother is still the cherished child of the Wacondah.” he an- 
swered in a gentle voice. 


j4n Old Friend. 


53 


“Thanks, chief,” the young man said with a sigh of relief; “forgive this 
Start of terror which I could not overcome, but on perceiving you I feared lest 
some misfortune had happened.” 

“A son must love his mother: my brother’s feeling is natural. Wlien I left 
the Village of Flowers, the old greyhead, the companion of my brothers 
mother, wished to start with me.” 

“ Poor No Eusebio,” the young man muttered, “ he is so devoted to us.’' 

“ The sachems would not consent ; greyhead is necessary to my brother’s 
mother.” 

“ They were right, chief ; but why did you not awake me on your 
arrival ? ” 

“ Loyal Heart was asleep. Black-deer did not wish to trouble his sleep : he 
waited.” 

“ Good I my brother is a chief ; he acted as he thought advisable.” 

“ Black-deer is intrusted with a message from the sachems to Loyal Heart* 
He wishes to smoke the calumet in council with him.” 

“ Good 1 my brother can speak ; I am listening.” 

Tranquil rose, and threw his rifle over his shoulder. 

“Where is the hunter going?” the Indian asked. 

“ While you tell Loyal Heart the message I will take a stroll in the fewest.” 

“ The white hunter will remain ; Black-deer has nothing to conceal. The 
wisdom of my brother is great ; he was brought up by the red-skins.” 

“ But perhaps you have things to tell Loy^ Heart which only concern your- 

SCiVes.” 

“ I have nothing to say which my brother should not heat- j my brother will 
disobligle me by withdrawing.” 

“ I will remain, then, chief, since such f.s the case.” 

The methodical Indian now drew out his calumet, and, to display the im- 
portance of the commission with which he was entrusted, instead of filling it 
with ordinary tobacco, he placed in it morhichee^ or sacred tobacco, which he 
produced from a little parchment bag he took from the pouch all Indians wear 
when travelling, and which contains their medicine-bag and the few articles 
indispensable for a long journey. When the calumet was filled, he lit it from 
a coal he moved from the fire by the aid of a medicine-rod, decorated with 
feathers and bills. 

These extraordinary preparations led the hunters to suppose that Black-deer 
was really the bearer of important news, and they prepared to listen to him with 
all proper gravity. The sachem inhaled two or three whiffs of smoke, then 
passed the calumet to Tranquil, who, after performing the same operation, 
handed it to Loyal Heart. The calumet went the round thus, until ail the 
tobacco was consumed. 

During this ceremony, which is indispensable at every Indian council, the 
three men remained silent. When the pipe was out, the chief emptied the ash 
into iilie fire, while muttering a few unintelligible words, which, however, were 
probably an invocation to the Great Spirit ; he then thrust the pipe in his 
girdle, and after reflecting for some moments, rose and began speaking. 

“ Loyal Heart,” he said, “ you left the Village of Flowers to follow the 
hunting-path at daybreak of the third sun of the mmon of the falling leaves. 
Well, during that period many things have occurred, which demand your im- 
mediate presence in the tribe of which you are one of the adopted sons. Th.e 
war-hatchet, so deeply buried for ten moons between the prairie Comanche^ ^nd 
the BulTalo Apaches, has suddenly been dug up in full council, and the Apav^nes 
to fpllow the war-trail, under the orders of the wisest and 


B4 


The Freelooters, 


experienced chiefs of the nation. Your heart is strong, you will obey the orders 
of your fathers, and fight for them.” 

Loyal heart bowed his head in assent. 

“ No one doubted you,” the chief continued ; “ still, for a war against the 
Apaches, the sachems would not have claimed your help ; the Apaches are 
chattering old women, whom Comanche children can drive off with their dog- 
whips. The Long Knives of the East and the Yoris have also dug up the 
hatchet, and both have offered to treat with the Comanches. An alliance with 
the pale-faces is not very agreeable to red-skins ; still, their anxiety is great, 
as they do not know w'hich side to take, or which party to protect.” 

Black-deer was silent. 

“ The situation is indeed grave,” Loyal Heart answered ; “ it is even 
Critical.” 

“ The chiefs, divided in opinion, and not knowing which is the better,” Black- 
deer continued, “ sent me off in all haste to find my brother, whose wisdom they 
are aware of, and promise to follow his advice.” 

“ I am very young,” Loyal Heart answered, “ to venture to give my advice 
in such a matter, and settle so arduous a question.” 

“ My brother is young, but wisdom speaks by his mouth. The Wacondah 
breathes in his heart the words his lips utter ; all the chiefs feel respect for 
him.” 

The young man shook his head, as if protesting against such a mark of 
deference. “ Since you insist,” he said, “ I will speak ; but I will not give my 
opinion till I have heard that of this hunter, who is better acquainted with the 
desert than I am.” 

“ Wah,” said Black-deer, “ the pale hunter is wise ; his advice must be good; 
a chief is listening to him.” 

Thus compelled to explain his views. Tranquil had involuntarily to take part 
in the discussion ; but he did not feel at all inclined to take on himself the 
responsibility of the heavy burden which Loyal Heart tried to throw off his own 
shoulders. Still, he was too thoroughly a man of the desert to refuse giving 
his opinion in council, especially upon so important a question. 

“ The Comanches are the most terrible warriors of the prairie,” he said ; “no 
one must try to invade their hunting-grounds ; if they make war with the 
Apaches, who are vagabond and cowardly thieves, they are in the right to do 
so ; but for what good object would they interfere in the quarrels of the pale- 
faces ? Whether Yoris or Long Knives, the whites have ever been, at all times 
and under all circumstances, the obstinate enemies of the red-skins, killing them 
wherever they may find them, under the most futile pretexts, and for the most 
time simply because they are Indians. To the red-skins the pale-faces are 
coyotes thirsting for blood. The Comanches should leave them to devour each 
other ; whichever party may triumph, those who have been killed will be so 
inany enemies the fewer for the Indians. This war between the pale-faces has 
been going on for two years, implacably and obstinately. Up to the present 
the Comanches have remained neutral ; why should they interfere now ? I have 
spoken.” 

“Yes,” Loyal Heart said, “you have spoken well, Tranquil. The opinion 
you have offered the Comanches ought to follow, an interference on their part 
would be an act of deplorable folly.” 

Black-deer had carefully listened to the Canadian’s speech, and it appeared 
to have produced an impression ; he listened in the same way to Loyal Heart, 
and when the latter had ceased speaking, the chief remained thoughtful for a 
inhile, and then replied — 


35 


Quoniam s Return. 


I am pleased with the words of my brothers, for they prove to me that I 
regarded the situation correctly. I gave the council of the chiefs the same 
advice my brothers just offered. 

“ I am ready to support in council,” Loyal Heart remarked, “ the opinions 
the white hunter has offered, for they are the only ones which should prevail.” 

I think so too. Loyal Heart will accompany the chiefs to the callis of the 
nation ? ” 

“ It is my intention to start on my return to-morrow j if my brother can wait 
till then, we will start together.” 

“ 1 will wait.” 

“ Good ; to-morrow at daybreak we will follow the return trail in company.” 

The council was over, yet Tranquil tried vainly to explain to himself how it 
was that Black-deer, whom he had left among the Snake Pawnees, could now 
be an iufluential chief ot the Comanche nation ; and the connection between 
Loyal Heart and the chief perplexed him not a bit less. All these ideas troubled 
the hunter’s head, and he promised himself on the first opportunity to ask 
Black-deer for the history of his life since their separation. 

As soon as Lanzi returned, the hunters and Carmela sat down to breakfast, 
waited on by Singing-bird, 


CHAPTER VIII. 

ftCONlAM’s RETURN. 

Thb meal did not take long; each of the guests, busied with secret thoughts, 
ate quietly and silently. Tranquil, though he did not like to ask any questions 
of Black-deer or Loyal Heart, for all that, burned to learn by what concourse 
of extraordinary events these two men, who had started from diametrically 
opposite points, had eventually grown into such close intimacy. 

But the Tiger-killer was too well acquainted with prairie manners to try and 
lead the conversation to a topic which might perhaps have displeased his 
comrades, and which, at any rate, would have displayed a curiosity on his part 
unworthy of an old wood-ranger. 

Carmela felt a great friendship for Singing-bird, and so soon as the meal was 
ended, led her off to the jacal, where both began chattering. In accordance 
with the arrangements the hunters had made, Loyal Heart and Tranquil took 
their rifles, and entered the forest on opporsite sides, to go in quest of game. 
Black-deer and Lanzi remained behind. 

The two men, lying on the ground side by side, slept or smoked with that 
apathy and careless indolence peculiar to men who despise talking for the sako 
of talking. Several hours passed away thus, nothing occurring to trouble the 
calmness and silence that reigned over the bivouac, except at intervals the 
joyous laughter of the two young women, which brought a slight smile to the 
lips of the hunters. 

A little before sunset the others returned, almost simultaneously, bending 
beneath the weight of the game they had killed. Loyal Heart, moreover, had 
lassoed a horse, which he brought in for Black-deer, who had not one. The 
sight of this animal caused the adventurers some alarm, and numerous 
conjectures. It was not at all wild ; it allowed Loyal Heart to'approach it 


36 


The Freebooters, 


witho.it difficulty, who made a prisoner of it almost without opposition. 
Moreover, it was completely equipped in the Mexican fashion. 

Tranquil concluded from this, after reflection for a moment, that the Free- 
hooters had attacked the conducta de plata, and the animal, whose rider had 
probably been killed, had escaped during the action. 

After a lengthy discussion, it was at last agreed that so soon as night had 
completely set in. Black-deer should go reconnoitring, while those who remained 
in the camp redoubled their vigilance. 

The sun was just disappearing behind the dense mass of lofty mountains that 
marked the horizon, when the hurried paces of a horse were heard a short 
distance off. The hunters seized their weapons, and posted themselves behind 
the enormous boles of the sumach trees that surrounded them, in order to be 
ready for any event. At this moment the cry of the blue jay was repeated 
twice. 

“ Take your places again at the fire,” Tranquil said ; “ ’tis a friend.*’ 

In fact, a few moments later, the branches cracked, the shrubs were thrust 
aside, and Quoniam made his appearance. After nodding to the company, he 
dismounted, and sat down by the side of the Panther-killer. 

“ Well, the latter asked him, “ what news have you ? ” 

“ Plenty,” he answered. 

“ Then, I suppose, you have been reconnoitring ? ” 

I did not have the trouble to ask questions ; I only required to listen in 
order to learn in an hour more news than I could have discovered in a year.” 

“ Oh, oh,” the Canadian said, “ eat, and when your appetite is satisfied, you 
will tell us all you have learnt.” 

“ I wish for nothing better, especially as there are sundry matters it is as well 
for you to know.” 

“ Eat then without further delay, that you may be able to talk to us all the 
sooner.” 

The negro did not let the invitation be repeated, and began vigorously 
attacking the provisions which Tranquil had put aside, and which Loyal Heart 
now spread on the ground. The hunters were eager to hear the news of which 
Quoniam stated himself to be the bearer ; after all they had been able to see 
during the past few days, they must possess considerable importance. Still, 
however great their curiosity might be, they succeeded in hiding it, and 
patiently waited till the negro had finished his meal. The latter, who suspected 
what thoughts were crossing their minds, did not put their patience to a long 
trial ; he ate with the proverbial rapidity of hunters, and had finished in a 
twinkling. 

“ Now I am quite at your service,” he said, as he wiped his mouth on the skirt 
of his hunting-shirt, “ and ready to answer all your questions.” 

“ We have none to ask you,” Tranquil said ; “ we wish you, gossip, to give us 
a short narrative of all that has happened to you.” 

Well, it is not a long ride from here to the Larch-tree hacienda in a straight 
line ; my horse is good ; I went straight ahead, and coyered the distance in 
eight hours. When I reached the Larch-tree, there was a great confusion at the 
hacienda. The peons and vaqueros collected in the patio were talking and 
“^outing all together, while the Signor Haciendero, pale and alarmed, was 
distributing arms, raising barricades before the gates, placing cannon on their 
carriages — in short, taking all the precautions of men who expect an attack at 
any moment. It was impossible for me to make myself heard at first, for 
everybody was speaking at once — women crying, children screaming, and men 
swearing. I might have fancied myself in a mad-house, so noisy and terrified 


Qjioniain^s Return. 


37 


did I find everybody ; at length, however, by going from one to the other, 
questioning this man, and bullying that one, I learned the following, which 
enabled me to comprehend the general terror ; the affair, I swear to you, was 
worth the trouble.” 

Out with it, friend,” Loyal Heart exclaimed. 

“ Let him tell his story in his own way,” he said to Loyal Heart ; “ if not, it will 
be impossible for him to reach the end. Quoniam has a way of telling things 
peculiar to himself ; if interrupted, he loses the thread of his ideas, and then he 
grows confused.” 

“ That is true,” said the negro ; “ when I am stopped, it is all up with me, and 
I get into such a tangle that I cannot find my way out. But to continue : this is 
what I learned ; — The conducta de plata, escorted by Captain Melendez, was 
attacked by the Border Rifles, or the Freebooters as they are now called, and 
after a desperate fight, all the Mexicans were killed.” 

“ Ah ! ” Tranquil exclaimed, in stupor. 

“ All,” Quoniam repeated ; “ not one escaped ; it must have bee»6 ifrightful 
butchery.” 

“ Speak lower, my friend,” the hunter remarked, “ Carmela might hear you.’* 

The negro gave a nod of assent. 

“ But,” he continued, in a lower key, “ this victory was not very productive, 
for the Mexicans had been careful to hurl the gold they carried into a barranca.” 

“ Well played, by Heaven * ” the Canadian exclaimed ; “ but go on, my 
friend.” 

“ This victory fired the mine ; the whole of Texas has risen ; the towns and 
pueblos are in full revolt, and the Mexicans are pursued like wild beasts.” 

“ Is it so serioup as that ? ” 

“ Much more than you suppose. The Jaguar is at this moment at the head 
of an army ; he has hoisted the flag of Texan independence, and sworn that he 
will not lay down arms till he has restored liberty to his country. 

“ Is that all ?” Tranquil asked. 

“ Not all,” Quonian made answer. “Considering that you would not be sorry 
to hear these important news as speedily as possible, I hastened to finish my 
business with the Capataz. I had some difficulty in finding him, as he was so 
busy ; so soon as I got hold of him, instead of giving me the money I asked h»im 
for, he answered me that I must be off at once, and tell you to come to the 
hacienda as soon as you could.” 

“ Hum ! ” said Tranquil. 

“Seeing,” Quoniam went on, “that there was nothing more to expect of the 
Capataz, I took leave of him and remounted my horse; but just as I was 
leaving, a great noise was heard outside, and everybody rushed to the gates, 
uttering shouts of joy. It seems that General Don ]ose Maria Rubio, who 
commands the province, considers that the position of the hacienda is a very 
important point to defend.” 

“ Of course,” Tranquil said; “the Larch-tree commands the entrance of the 
valley, and, built at the period of the conquest, is a perfect fortress ; its thick, 
battlemented walls, its situation on an elevation which cannot be commanded, 
and which on one side holds under its guns the mountain passes, and on the 
other the valley de los Almendrales, render it a point of The utmost importance, 
which can only be carried by a regular siege.” 

“ That is what everybody said down there ; it seems, too, that such is General 
Rubio’s opinion^ for the cause of all the disturbance I heard was the arrival of 
a large body of troops commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel, who had'orders to 
chut himself up in the hacienda, and defend it to the last extremity.” 


S8 


The Freebooters. 


“ Civil war, then, ’’Tranquil continued, mournfully, “that is to say, the most odious 
and horrible of all ; a war in which fathers fight against sons, brothers against 
brothers, in which friend and foe speak the same tongue, issue from the same 
stem, have the same blood in their veins, and through that very reason are the 
more inveterate and rend each other with greater animosity and rage ; civil war, 
the most horrible scourge that can crush a people I May God grant in his 
mercy that it be short.” 

“ Amen ! ” his hearers replied. In a deep voice. 

“ But how did you succeed in escaping from the hacienda after the arrival of 
the troops, Quoniam ?” Tranquil continued. 

I saw that^ if I amused myself by admiring the uniform and fine appearance 
of the troops, when order was slightly restored, the gates would be closed, and 
my hopes of escaping foiled for a long time. Without saying a word, I dis- 
mounted, and leading my horse by the bridle, glided through the mob so cleverly, 
i’;hat I at length found myself outside. I then leaped into the saddle, and 
pushed straight ahead. I was only just in time, I declare, for five minutes later 
all the gates were closed.” 

“ And then you came straight here ? ” 

“ You are mistaken ; I did not return straight here : and yet it was not my 
inclination that prevented it, I assure you.” 

“ What happened, then ?” 

“ You will see, for I have not finished yet. Every man does what he can, and 
you have no right to ask more of him. Never,” the negro continued, “ did I 
gallop in such good spirits. My ride lasted, without interruption, for nearly five 
hours ; at the end of that period I thought it advisable to grant my horse a few 
minutes’ rest, that it might regain its breath. I therefore halted for two hours ; 
then, after rubbing it down, I started again, but had scarcely gallopped an hour 
longer, ere I fell into a large party of horsemen, armed to the teeth, who sud- 
denly emerged from a ravine, and surrounded me ere I had even time enough 
to notice them. The meeting was anything but agreeable — the more so, as they 
did not appear at all well disposed toward me ; and I do not exactly know how 
I should have got out of the hobble, had not one of the men thought proper to 
recognize me, and burst out, ‘ Why, it is a friend ; ’tis Quoniam, Tranquil’s 
comra.de !’ I confess that this exclamation pleased me; a man may be brave, 
but there are circumstances in which he feels frightened, and this is what hap- 
pened to me.” 

The hunters smiled at the negro’s simple frankness, but were careful not to 
interrupt him. 

“ At once,” he continued, “ the manner of these men changed entirely ; they 
became most polite and attentive. ‘ Lead him to the commandant,’ said one of 
them ; the others approved, and I gave in, because resistance would have bees 
folly. I followed without any remark, the man who led me to their chief.” 

“ The Jaguar,” the hunter said. 

“ What 1” the negro exclaimed, in amazement, “ have you guessed it ? Well I 
I swear to you that I did not suspect it in the least, and was greatly surprised 
at seeing him. It seems that he is going straight to the Larch-tree hacienda.” 

“ Does he intend to lay siege to it?” 

“ That is his intention, I believe ; but, although he is at the head of nearly 
twelve hundred determined bandits, I do not think his nails, and those of his 
comrades will be hard enough to dig a hole in such stout walls.” 

“ Go on, my friend.” 

“ Before sending me away, the Jaguar inquired after you and Dona Carmela 
Hth considerable interest. Then he wrote a few words on a piece of paper, 


Hospitality, 


39 


which he handed me, with a recommendation to be sure and give it you so soon 
as I rejoined you.” 

“Good heaven 1” Tranquil exclaimed, “and you have delayed so long in 
executing your commission 1 ” 

“ Was I not obliged to tell you first what happened P But here is the paper.” 

While saying this, Quoniam drew a paper from his pocket, and offered it to 
Tranquil, who almost tore it out of his hands. The negro, convinced that he 
had carried out his commission excellently, did not at all comprehend the 
hunter’s impatience ; he looked at him a moment with an air of amazement, 
then shrugged his shoulders almost imperceptibly, filled his pipe, and began 
smoking. 

The hunter quickly unfolded the paper ; he turned it over and over in his 
hands with an air of embarrassment, taking a side-glance every now and then 
at Loyal Heart, who had drawn a burning log from the fire, and now held it 
within reading distance, for night had completely set in. 

“Well,” said Loyal Heart with a smile, “what does your friend Jaguar 
write ?” 

“ Hum !” said the hunter. 

“ Perhaps,” the other continued, “ it is so badly written that you cannot make 
out his scrawl. If you permit me, I will try.” 

The Canadian looked at him. The young man’s face was calm ; nothing 
evidenced that he had a thought of making fun of the hunter. 

“ Deuce take all false shame 1 ” he said as he gave him the letter. “ Why 
should I not confess that I cannot read P A man whose life Las been spent in 
the desert ought not to fear confessing an ignorance which can have nothing 
dishonouring for him. Read, read, my lad, and let us know what our doubtful 
friend wishes.” 

And he took the log from the young man’s hands. 

Loyal Heart took a rapid glance at the paper. “ The letter is laconic,” he 
said, “ but explicit. Listen : 

“ ‘ The Jaguar has kept his word. Of all the Mexicans who accompanied 
the conducta, only one is alive free and un wounded — Captain Don Juan 
Melendez de Gongora ! ’ ” 

“ Well,” Tranquil exclaimed, “ people may say as they please, but the Jaguar 
is a fine fellow.” 

“ Is he not, father ?” a gentle voice murmured in his ear. 

Tranquil started at this remark, and turned sharply round, Carmela was by 
his side, calm and smiling. 


CHAPTER IX, 

HOSPITALITY. 

W* have said that night had fallen for some time past, and it was quite dark 
under covert. In the black sky a chaos of clouds, laden with the electric fluid, 
rolled heavily along. Not a star glistened in the vault of heaven ; an autumnal 
breeze whistled gustily through the trees, and at each blast covered the ground 
with a shower of dead leaves. 

In the distance could be heard the dull and mournful appeals of the wild 


40 


The Freebooters, 


beasts proceeding to the drinking-place, and the snapping bark of the coyotes, 
whose ardent eyes at intervals gleamed like incandescent coals amid the shrubs. 
At times lights flashed in the forest and ran along the fine marsh grass like 
will-o’-the-wisps. Large dried-up sumach trees stood at the corners of the 
clearing, in which the bivouac was established, and in the fantastic gleams of 
the fire waved like phantoms their winding sheets of moss and lianas. A 
thousand sounds passed through the air ; nameless cries escaped from invisible 
lairs, hollowed beneath the roots of the aged trees ; stifled cries descended from 
the crests of the quebradas, and our adventurers felt an unknown world living 
around them, whose proximity froze the soul with a secret terror. 

The news brought by Quoniam had augmented the tendency of the hunters to 
melancholy ; hence the conversation round the fire, ordinarily gay and careless, 
was sad and short. Every one yielded to the flood of gloomy thoughts that 
contracted his heart, and the few words exchanged at lengthened intervals 
between the hunters generally remain unanswered. 

Carmela alone, lively as a nightingale, continued in a low voice her conver- 
sation with Singing-bird, while warming herself, for the night was cold, and not 
noticing the anxious side-glances which the Canadian at times gave her. At 
the moment when Lanzi and Quoniam were preparing to go to sleep, a slight 
crackling was heard in the shrubs. The hunters, suddenly torn from their secret 
thoughts, raised their heads quickly. The horses had stopped eating, and with 
their heads turned to the thicket, and ears laid back, appeared to be listening. 

“ Some one is prowling around,” said Loyal Heart. 

“ A spy, of course,” replied Lanzi. 

“ Spy or no, the man is certainly a white,” said Tranquil, as he stretched out 
his arm to clutch his rifle. 

“ Stay, father,” Carmela said eagerly, “ perhaps it is some poor wretch lost 
in the desert who needs help.” 

“ It may be so,” Tranquil replied after a moment’s reflection; “at any rate, 
we shall soon know.” 

“ What do you intend doing?” the girl exclaimed. 

“ Go and meet the man, and ask him what he wants.” 

“ Take care, father.” 

“ Of what, my child ?” 

“ Suppose this man were one of the bandits, and he were to kill you ?” 

The Canadian shrugged his shoulders. 

“ Kill me, girl, nonsense ! reassure yourself, my child, whoever the man may 
be, he will not see me unless 1 deem it necessary. So let me alone.” 

Freeing himself gently from Carmela’s affectionate clutch, the Canadian 
picked up his rifle and disappeared in the chapparal with so light and well- 
measured a step, that he seemed rather to be gliding on a cloud, than walking 
on the grass of the clearing. 

So soon as he reached the centre of the thicket, from which the ill-omened 
sound he had heard came, the hunter, ignorant as he was as to how many 
enemies he had to deal wi^h, redoubled his prudence and precautions ; after an 
hesitation which lasted only a few seconds, he lay down on the ground, and 
began gently crawling through the grass. 

We must now return to the monk, whom we left proceeding toward the 
hunters’ bivouac. When he was alone. Fray Ambrosio took a timid glance 
around him ; his mind was perplexed, for he could not conceal from himself 
how delicate and difficult of accomplishment was the mission with which thft 
chief had entrusted him, especially when dealing with a man so clever and well 
versed in Indian tricks as the tiger-killer. 


Hospitality, 




Fortunately for himself, the monk belonged to that privileged class of men 
whom even the greatest annoyances but slightly affect, and who, after feeling 
wretched for a few moments, frankly make up their minds, saying to themselve? 
that when the moment arrives in which they run a risk, an accident wL^ 
perhaps draw them from their trouble, and turn matters to their advantage, in 
lieu of crushing them. 

The monk, therefore, resolutely entered the covert, guiding himself by the 
light of the fire as a beacon. For some minutes he went on at a tolerable pace, 
but gradually as he approached, his alarm returned ; he remembered the rough 
correction Captain Melendes had administered to him, and this time he feared 
even worse. 

Still, he was now so near the bivouac that any backsliding would be useless. 
For the purpose of granting himself a few minutes’ further respite, he dis- 
mounted, and fastened his horse to a tree with extreme slowness : then, having 
no further plausible pretext to offer himself for delaying his arrival among the 
hunters, he decided on starting again, employing the most minute precautions 
not to be perceived too soon, through fear of receiving a bullet in his chest. 

But Fray Ambrosio, unluckily for himself, was extremely obese ; he walked 
heavily, and like a man accustomed to tread the pavement of a town; moreover, 
the night was extremely dark, which prevented him seeing two yards ahead, and 
he could only progress with outstretched hands, tottering at every step, and 
running against every obstacle that came across his path. 

Hence he did not go far, ere he aroused the persons he desired so much to 
surprise, and whose practised ear, constantly on the watch, had at once noticed 
the unusual sound which he had himself not noticed. Fray Antonio, extremely 
satisfied with his manner of progression, and congratulating himself in his heart 
at having succeeded so well in concealing himself, grew bolder and bolder, and 
began to feel almost entirely reassured, when suddenly he uttered a slight cry of 
terror, and stopped as if his feet had been rooted in the ground. He had felt a 
heavy hand laid on his shoulder. 

The monk began trembling all over, though not daring to turn his head 
to the right or left, for he was persuaded in his heart that his last hour had 
arrived. 

“ Hilloh, Senor Padre, what are you doing in the forest at such an hour?” a 
hoarse voice then said to him. 

But Fray Antonio was unable to answer ; terror had rendered him deaf and 
blind. 

“Are you dumb?” the voice went on a minute after in a friendly voice. 
“ Come, come, it is not wise to traverse the desert at so late an hour.” 

The monk did not reply. 

“ Deuce take me,” the other exclaimed, “ if terror has not rendered him 
idiotic. Come, bestir yourself.” 

And he began shaking him vigorously, 

“ Eh, what?” the monk said. 

“ Come, there is some progress, you speak, hence you are not dead,” Tranquil 
went on joyously, for it was he who had so cruelly frightened the monk ; “ fol- 
low me, you must be frozen, don’t let us remain here.” 

And passing his arm through the monk’s he led him away. In a few minutes 
they reached the clearing. 

“ Ah 1 ” Carmela exclaimed in surprise ; “ Fray Antonio 1 by what accident is 
iie here, when he started with the conducta de plata ?” 

This remark made the hunter prick up his ears ; he examined the monk 
attentively, and then compelled him to sit down by the fire. 


The Freebooters, 


4 » 


“ I trust that the good father will explain to us what has happened to him," 
lie muttered. 

Everything, however, has an end in this world ; and the monk for some time 
past had seemed destined to pass, with the greatest rapidity and almost without 
transition, from the extremest terror to the most complete security. When he 
was a little warmed, the confusion produced in his ideas by the sudden meeting 
with the hunter gradually yielded to the cordial reception given him ; and 
Carmela’s gentle voice breaking pleasantly on his ear, completely re-established 
the balance of his mind, and dismissed the mournful apprehensions that 
torment him. 

“Do you feel better, holy Father?” Carmela asked him, with much 
liympathy. 

“ Yes,” he said, “ I thank you.” 

“ Will you eat ? Would you like to take any refreshment ?” 

“ Nothing at all, I thank you, for I have not the least appetite,” 

“ Perhaps you are thirsty, Fray Antonio ; if so, here is a bota of refino,” said 
Lanzi, as he offered him a skin. 

The monk, seizing the bota, drank a hearty draught of the generous fluid. 
This libation restored him all his coolness and presence of mind. 

“ There,” he said, as he turned the bota to the half-breed, and gave vent to a 
sigh of relief, “ heaven preserve me ; were the Evil One to come now in person, 
I feel capable of holding my own against him.” 

“ Ah, ah ! ” said Tranquil, “it seems you are now completely restored to 
your intellectual faculties.” 

“ Yes, and I will give you proof of it.” 

“ You challenge me. I did not like to question you before ; but, as it is so, 1 
will no longer hesitate.” 

“ What do you wish to know ?” 

“ A very simple matter : how is it that a monk finds himself at such an hour 
alone in the desert ? ” 

“ Nonsense,” Fray Antonio said, gaily. “ Who told you that I was alone 

“ Nobody ; but I suppose so.” 

“ Do not make any suppositions, brother, for you would be mistaken,” 

“ Indeed ! ” 

“ Yes, as I have the honour of telling you.” 

“ Still, when I met you, you were alone.” 

“ Granted.” 

“ Well ? ” 

“ The others were further off, that’s all.” 

“ What others ? ” 

“ The persons who accompanied me.” 

“ Ah ! and who are they ? ” 

“ That is the question,” he said, a minute after, as if holding a conversation 
•vith himself, “ the most disadvantageous reports are current about me. I am 
/iccused of a number of bad actions ; suppose I were to try and do a good one. 
Who knows whether I may not be rewarded at a later date ? At any rate, here 
goes.” 

Tranquil and his comrades listened in surprise to the monologue of the monk, 
not knowing exactly what to think of this man, and half inclined to deem hini 
mad. The latter perceived the impression he produced. 

“ Listen,” he said, with a slight frown ; “ form what opinion of me you like, 
thp.^ is a matter of indifference to me ; still I do not wish it to be said that I 
requited your cordial hospitality by odious treachery.” 


Hospitality, 


43 


“ What do you mean ?” Tranquil exclaimed. 

“ Listen to me. I uttered the word treachery, and perhaps I was wrong, for 
nothing proves to me that it is so.” 

Explain yourself, in heaven’s name ; you speak in enigmas, and it is im- 
possible to understand you.” 

“ You are right, so I will be clear : which of you gentlemen bears the name 
of Tranquil ? ” 

“ Very good. Owing to certain circumstances, the recital of which would not 
at all interest you, I unluckily fell into the hands of the Apaches.” 

“ Apaches ! ” Tranquil exclaimed, in surprise. 

Good Lord, yes,” the monk continued ; “ and I assure you that when 1 
found myself in their power, I did not feel at at all comfortable. Still, far from 
inventing for me one of those atrocious tortures which they mercilessly inflict 
on the whites who are so unhappy as to become their prisoners, they treated 
me, on the contrary, with extreme gentleness.” 

Tranquil fixed a scrutinising glance on the monk’s placid face. 

“ For what purpose did they that ?” he asked. 

“ That I could not comprehend, though I am perhaps beginning to sus- 
pect it.” 

The hearers bent toward the speaker with an expression of impatient 
curiosity. 

“ This evening,” the monk went on, “ the chief of the redskins accompanied 
me to within a short distance of your bivouac ; on coming in sight of your fire 
he pointed it out to me, saying, ‘ Go and sit down at that brasero. You will 
tell the great pale hunter that one of his oldest and dearest friends desires to 
see him.’ Then he left me, after making the most horrible threats if I did not 
obey him at once. You know the rest.” 

Tranquil and his comrades regarded each other in amazement, but without 
exchanging a word. There was a rather long silence ; but Tranquil at length 
took On himself to express aloud the thought each had in his heart, 

“ ’Tis a trap,” he said. 

“ Yes,” Loyal Heart remarked ; “ but for what purpose ? ” 

“ How do I know?” the Canadian muttered. 

“ You said. Fray Antonio,” the young man continued, addressing the monk, 
** that you suspected the motives of the Apaches’ extraordinary treatment of 
you ?” 

“ I did say so,” he replied. 

Let us know that suspicion.” 

“ It was suggested to me by the conduct of the pagans, and by the clumsy 
snare they laid for you ; it is evident to me that the Apache chief hopes, if you 
consent to grant the interview he asks, to profit by your absence to carry off 
Dona Carmela.” 

“ Carry me off 1 ” the maiden exclaimed, with a start of horror. 

“ The redskins are very fond of white women,” the monk continued, coolly; 
“ most of the incursions they make into our territory are undertaken for purpose 
of carrying off captives of that colour.” 

“ Oh 1 ” Carmela exclaimed, “ I would sooner die than become the slave of 
one of those demons.” 

Tranquil shook his head sadly. “ The monk’s supposition appears to me 
correct,” he said. 

“ The more so,” Fray Antonio confirmed him, “ because the Apaches who 
made me prisoner are the same that attacked the Venta del Potrero.” 


44 


The Freebooters, 


*' Oh, oh ! ” said Lanzi ; “ in that case I know their chief, and his name ; he 
is one of the most implacable enemies of the white men, It is very unlucky 
that I did not succeed in burying him under the ruins of the venta.” 

“ What is the fellow’s name ? ” the hunter asked, sharply, evidently annoyed 
at his verbiage. 

“ Blue-fox ! ” said Lanzi. 

“Ah!” Tranquil said, ironically, and with a dark frown, “I have known 
Blue-fox for many years, and you, chief ? ” he added, turning to Black-deer. 

The name of the Apache Sachem had produced such an impression on the 
Pawnee, that the hunter was startled by it. 

“ Blue-fox is a dog, the son of a coyote,” he said, as he spate on the ground 
disdainfully; “the gipaetes would refuse to devour his unclean carcase.” 

“ These two men must have a mortal hatred for each other,” the Canadian 
muttered, as he took a side glance at the inflamed features and sparkling eyes 
of the chief. 

“ Will my brother kill Blue-fox ? ” the Pawnee asked. 

“ It is probable,” Tranquil answered ; “ but in the first place, let us try to 
play this rogue a trick. Be frank, monk ; have you told us the truth ? ” 

“ On my honour.” 

“ I should prefer any other oath,” the Canadian said ironically, in a low voice. 
“ Can you be trusted ? ” 

“ Yes.” 

“ Is what you said to us about your return to honest courses sincere ? Do you 
really intend to be of service to us ? ” 

“ I do.” 

“ Whatever may happen ? ” 

“ Whatever may happen, and whatever the consequence may be of what you 
ask of me ? ” 

“ That will do. I warn you that, in all probability, you will be exposed to 
serious perils.” 

“ I have told you that my resolution is formed ; speak, therefore, without 
further hesitation.” 

“ Listen to me, then,” 


CHAPTER X. 

THE larch-tree HACIENDA. 

Though the report made by Quoniam was in every respect true, the negro was 
ignorant of certain details of which we will now inform the reader, because these 
events are closely connected with our story, and clearness renders it iiidis 
pensable that they should be made known. We will, therefore, return to the 
larch-tree hacienda. ' 

This building, but a short distance from the mountains whose passes it com- 
manded, was of great strategetical value to both the parties now disputing the. 
possession of Texas. The insurgent chiefs understood this as well as the 
Mexican generals did. 

After the total destruction of the detachment commanded by Captain 
Melendez, General Rubio hastened to throw a powerful garrison into the 
Larch -tree. 


The Larch-tree Hacienda. 


45 


He was aware that the inhabitants only awaited the announcement of a 
success, even though problematical, to rise to a man, and make common cause 
with the daring partizans, branded by their enemies with the name of Border 
ruffians, but who in reality were only the forlorn hope of a revolution, and 
apostles acting under a holy and noble idea. 

“ You have your revenge to take, Colonel Melendez,” he said to the young- 
officer; “your new epaulettes have not yet smelt powder. I propose giving you 
a splendid opportunity for christening them.” 

“ You will fulfil my wishes. General,” the young officer replied, “by entrust- 
ing me with a perilous enterprise, my success in which will serve to wipe out 
the shame of my defeat.” 

“There is no shame. Colonel,” the General replied, kindly, “in being con- 
quered as you were. Let us not despond at an insignificant che(5k, but try to 
cut the comb of these cocks who, pluming themselves on their ephemeral 
triumph, doubtless imagine that we are terrified and demoralised by their 
victory.” 

“ Be assured. General, that I will help you to the best of my ability. What- 
ever be the post you confide to me, I will die at it before surrendering.” 

“An officer, my friend, must put off that impetuosity which so well becomes 
the soldier. Do not forget that you are a head, and not an arm.” 

“ I will be prudent, General, as far as the care for my honour will permit 

me.” 

“ That will do, Colonel — I ask no more.” 

Don Juan merely bowed in response. 

“ By-the-bye,” said the General, presently, “have these partizans any capable 
men at their head?” 

“ Very capable; thoroughly acquainted with guerilla fighting, and possessing 
both bravery and coolness.” 

“ All the better, for in that case we shall reap more glory in conquering them. 
Unfortunately, they are said to wage war like perfect savages, pitilessly mas- 
sacring the soldiers that fall into their hands.” 

“ You are mistaken. General. Whatever these men may be, and the cause 
for which they fight, it is my duty to disabuse you on this point, for they have 
been strangely calumniated ; it was only after my repeated refusals to surrender 
that the action began. Their Chief even offered me my life at the moment 
when I hurled myself with him into the yawning abyss at our feet. When I 
became their prisoner they restored my sword, gave me a horse and a guide, 
who brought me within musket-shot of your outposts*, is that the conduct of 
cruel men ? ” 

“ Certainly not, and I am pleased to see you thus do justice to your enemies.” 

“ I merely declare a fact.” 

“Yes, and an unlucky one for us; these men must consider themselves very 
strong to act thus. This clemency of theirs will attract a great numbei* of 
partizans.” 

“ I fear it.” 

“ And I too. No matter, the moment has arrived fo act with vigour.” 

“ I await your orders. General.” 

“ Very good. I have prepared three hundred men, cavalry and infantry; the 
latter will mount behind the horsemen, for the march must be rapid, as my 
Object is that you should reach the hacienda before the insurgents, and fortify 
yourself.” 

“ I will reach it.” 

I count on you. Two mountain guns will follow your detachment, and will 


45 


The Freebooters. 


prove sufficient; for, if I am rightly informed, the hacienda has six in good con» 
dition. Still, as ammunition may run short, you will take sufficient with you to 
last for a fortnight. At all risks, the hacienda must hold out for that period.’* 

The General now walked to the entrance of the tent and raised the curtain. 

“ Summon the officers told off for the expedition,” he said. 

Five minutes later the officers appeared; nine in number — two captains of 
cavalry, two of infantry, two lieutenants, and two alferez or second lieutenants, 
and a captain, lieutenant, and alferez of artillery. The General looked for a 
moment searcTiingly at these men, who stood serious and motionless befoie 
him. 

“ Caballeros,” he at length said, “I have carefully chosen you from the officers 
of my army, because I know that you are brave and experienced ; you are about 
to carry out, under Colonel Don Juan Melendez de Gongora, a confidential mis- 
sion, which I would not have given to others whose devotion to their country 
was less known to me. This mission is most perilous. I hope that you will 
accomplish it like brave men, and return here with glory.” 

The officers bowed their thanks. 

“ Do not forget,” the General continued, “that you owe your soldiers an ex- 
ample of subordination and discipline; obey the Colonel as myself in all he may 
order for the good of the service.” 

“ We cannot desire a better Chief than the one your Excellency has selected 
to lead us,” one of the Captains answered. 

The General smiled graciously. 

“ I count on your zeal and bravery. Now, to horse without further delay, for 
you must have left the camp within ten minutes.” 

The officers bowed and retired. Don Juan prepared to follow them. 

“ Stay,” the General said to him ; “ I have one final recommendation to give 
you.” 

The young man walked up to him. 

“ Shut yourself up in the place,” the General went on. “ If you are invested, 
do not attempt any of those sallies, which often compromise the fate of a garri- 
son, without advantage. Content yourself with vigorously repulsing attacks, 
sparing the blood of your soldiers, and not expending your ammunition need- 
lessly. You must resist till then. I will march in person to your help at any 
cost.” 

“ I have already told you I will do so. General.” 

“ I know that you will. Now, my friend, to horse, and may you be more for- 
tunate.” 

“ Thanks, General.” 

The Colonel bowed, and immediately withdrew to place himself at the head 
of the small band which, collected a short distance off, only awaited his arrival 
to start. The General was standing in the doorway of his tent to witness 
their departure. Don Juan mounted, and turned towards the motionless de- 
tachment. 

“ Forward!” he commanded. 

The squadrons at once started. The General remained in the doorway of his 
tent for some time, and when the last sound had died away, he pensively re- 
entered the tent, and let the curtain fall behind him, muttering in a low and sad 
voice — 

“ I have sent them to death, for Heaven fights on the side of our adver- 
saries.” 

Meanwhile, the detachment rapidly continued its march. Thanks to the 
Mexican fashion of mounting infantry en croupe^ the troops carried out their 


The Larch-tree Hacienda. 


4 ^ 


movements with a rapidity that seemed almost prodigious, the more so as 
American horses go very quickly, and endure great fatigue without injury. 

The Americans of the South are generally very harsh to their horses. Never 
inland does a horse pass the night, whatever the weather may be, otherwise 
than in the open air. Every morning it receives its ration for the whole day, 
marching frequently fourteen, or even sixteen hours, without stopping or drink- 
ing; when evening arrives, the harness is removed, and it is left to find its food 
where it can. On the Indian border, where there is much to fear from the 
Redskins, who are great admirers of horses, and display admirable skill in 
stealing them, certain precautions are used at night ; the horses are picquetted 
in the interior of the bivouac, and feed on the pea- vines, the young tree-shoots, 
and a few measures of maize or other corn, which is given with extreme parsi- 
mony. Still, these horses are very handsome, vigorous, remarkably docile, and 
of great speed. 

Colonel Melendez arrived at an early hour in sight of the hacienda, for his 
troops had made a forced march through the night. With a rapid glance the 
experienced chief of the Mexicans examined the neighbourhood, but the plain 
was deserted. 

The Larch-tree hacienda stood like an eagle’s nest on the top of a hillock, 
whose abrupt sides had never been smoothed, as the steepness of their ascent 
was regarded as a means of defence in the event of an attack. Thick walls 
turned yellow by time, at each angle of which could be seen the threatening 
muzzles of two guns peering out, gave this strongly-built house the appearance 
of a real fortress. 

The Mexicans increased their already rapid pace, in order to reach the 
hacienda before the gates were opened, and the ganado let out. When they did, 
the gates were not opened till the inhabitants were well assured that the new 
comers were really friends. They had already heard of the general insurrection 
occasioned by the surprise of the conducta de plata, and hence the major-domo, 
who commanded in the absence of Don Felipe de Valreal, proprietor of the 
hacienda, kept on his guard. 

This major-domo, whose name was Don Felix Paz, was a man of about five- 
and-forty at the most, tall, well-built, and powerful ; he had, in truth, the 
appearance of a perfect homlre de cabalto, an essential condition for fulfilling his 
onerous duties. This major-domo came in person to receive the Mexican 
detachment at the gate of the hacienda. After congratulating the colonel, he 
informed him that so soon as he received the news of the general revolt of the 
province, he had brought all his cattle in, armed the servants, and rendered the 
guns on the platfoiin serviceable. 

The colonel complimented him on his diligence, established his troops in the 
outhouses destined for the peons and vaqueros, took military possession of all 
the posts, and, accompanied by the major-domo, made a strict inspection of the 
interior of the fortress. Don Juan Melendez, being well acquainted with the 
carelessness and sloth of his fellow countrymen, expected to find the hacienda 
in a wretched state, but was agreeably deceived. 

Indeed, the colonel found but vety little to alter in the arrangements made by 
the major-domo ; he contented himself with cutting down several clumps of 
trees which, being situated too near the hacienda, might shelter sharp-shooters, 
who could annoy their artillerymen. At each entrance of the hacienda barri- 
cades were erected by his orders, composed of branches interlaced, and outside 
the walls the arms of all the healthy men were called into requisition, to dig a 
deep and wide trench, the earth from which, thrown up on the side of the 
hacienda, formed a breast-work, behind which the best shots in the garrisoa 


4 <» 


The Freebooters. 


were placed. The two guns brought by the colonel remained horsed, so that 
they might be transported to the point of danger. Finally, the Mexican flag 
was hoisted on the top of the hacienda. 

Counting the servants, to whom Don Felix had distributed arms, the garrison 
amounted to nearly four hundred men, a sufficient force to resist a coup de 
main, especially in so good a position as this ; there was plenty of ammunition 
and food. 

The works of fortification were carried on with such great activity, that they 
were completed within twenty-four hours of the colonel’s arrival at the hacienda. 
The scouts, sent out in all directions, came back without any fresh news of the 
insurgents, whose movements were so cleverly veiled, that, since the affair of 
the conducta, they seemed to have disappeared without leaving a trace. 

It was the second day after the arrival of the Mexicans at the Larch-tree; the 
sun was disappearing behind the mountains in masses of gold ; night would 
soon set in. Colonel Melendez and the major-domo, leaning on one of the 
battlements of the platform, were absently gazing out on the immense landscape 
unrolled at their feet, while conversing together. Don Juan had in a few 
minutes appreciated the loyalty and intelligence of the major-domo ; hence 
these two men, who thoroughly understood each other, had become friends. 

“ Another day past,” said the colonel, “ and it has been impossible for us yet 
to learn the movements of the insurgents. Does not that appear extra- 
ordinary?” 

The major-domo sent forth a cloud of smoke from his mouth and nostril, 
took his husk cigarette from his mouth, and quietly flipped away the 
ash. 

“ Very extraordinary,” he said. 

“ What a singular man you are! nothing disturbs you,” Don Juan went on, 
** Have our scouts returned ?” 

“ Ail.” 

“ And still brought no news ?” 

“ None.” 

“ By Heaven ! your coolness would make a saint swesr ! Why are you look- 
ing so fixedly at the sky ? do you fancy you can find information there ?” 

“ Perhaps so. Look there,” the major-domo replied, extending his hand in a 
north-east direction. 

“ Well?” the colonel said, looking in the direction indicated, 

“ Do you see nothing?” 

“ On my honour, no.” 

“ Not even those flocks of herons and flamingos flying in large circles, and 
uttering shrill cries?” 

“ Certainly I see birds ; but what have they in common ?” 

“ Colonel,” the major-domo interrupted him, “ prepare to defend yourself ; 
the enemy is there.” 

“ What — the enemy ? you are mad, Don Felix ; look out in the last gleams of 
day, the plain is deserted.” 

“ Colonel, before becoming major-domo at the Larch-tree hacienda, I was a 
wood-ranger for fifteen years ; the desert is to me a book, every page of which I 
can peruse. Watch the timid flight of those birds, notice the numberless flocks 
which are constantly joining those we first perceived; those birds, driven from 
their nests, are flying hap-hazard before an enemy who will soon appear. That 
enemy is the insurgent army.” 

“ Rayo de Dios, Don Felix,” the colonel suddenly exclaimed ; “you are righl^ 
look there I ” 


A Metamorphosis, 


49 


A red line, momentarily growing widei suddenly appeared oci the extreme 
verge of the horizon. 

“ Did the flight of the birds deceive us ?” the major-domo asked. 

Forgive me, friend, a very excusable ignorance j but we have not a moment 
to lose.” 

They went down at once ; five minutes later the defenders of the hacienda 
lined the tops of the walls, and ambushed themselves behind the exterior 
intrenchments. The Texan army, now perfectly visible, was deploying on the 
plains in heavy columns. 


CHAPTER XI. 

A METAMORPHOSIS, 

We must now go back to the encampment of the hunters, whom we left in a 
most awkward position, watched by the vigilant eye of the Apaches, and com. 
pelled to trust to Fray Antonio, that is to say, to a man for whom, in his heart, 
j ot one ol them telt the slightest sympathy. Still, had it been possible to read the 
monk’s mind, their opinion about him would probably have been completely 
changed. 

But a revolution had taken place in this man’s mind, and he had been uncon- 
sciously overcome by that influence which upright natures ever exert over those 
which have not yet been entirely spoiled. However, whatever was the cause of 
the change which had taken place almost suddenly in the monk’s ideas, we are 
bound to state that it was sincere, and that Fray Antonio really intended to 
serve his new friends. 

Tranquil, accustomed, through the desert life he led, to discover with a certain 
degree of skill the true feelings of persons with whom accident brought him in 
contact, thought it his duty to appear to trust, under present circumstances, 
entirely to the monk. 

“ Are you brave ? ” he asked him. 

Fray Antonio, surprised by the sudden question, hesitated for a moment. 

“ That depends,” he said. 

“ Good ; that is a sensible answer. There are moments when no man can 
answer for his courage.” 

The monk gave a sign of assent. 

“ We have,” Tranquil continued, “to cheat the cheater, and play at diamond 
cut diamond w’ith him ; you must return to Blue-fox.” 

“ What ? ” 

“ Are you afraid ? ” 

'* Not exactly ; but I fancy he may proceed to extremities with me. But 1 
wik run the risk.” 

The Canadian looked fixedly at him. 

“ That will do,” he said to him. “ Here, take these, and, at any rate, if you 
are attacked, you will not die unavenged.” 

And he put a brace of pistols in his hand. The monk examined them 
attentively for a moment, then he hid them under his gown with a start of joy* 

“ I fear nothing now,” he said ; “ I am going.” 

“ Still I must explain to you ” 


The Freehooters. 


SO 


** For what good purpose ? ” the monk interruj^ted h “ I will tell Blue-fox 
that yOu consent to have an interview with him ; but, as you do not care to go 
alone to his camp, you prefer seeing him without witnesses in the middle of the 
prairie.” 

That will do, and you will bring him with you to the spot where I shall be 
waiting. Now, one parting hint. Keep a few paces from the chief, not before 
or behind, but on his right hand, if possible.” 

“ Very good ; I understand.” 

Well, I trust you will succeed.” 

“ Oh, now I fear nothing, as I am armed.” 

After uttering these words, the monk rose and walked away with a quick and 
firm step. The Canadian looked after him for some time. 

“ What is your plan ? ” asked Loyal Heart. 

“ It is simple: we can only triumph over the enemies who surround us by 
stratagem ; hence, that is the only thing I intend employing. We must escape 
from these red demons at all hazards.” 

“ That is true. But, when we have succeeded in throwing them out, where 
shall we go ? ” 

“ We must not dream, in the present excited state of the country, of making 
a long journey across the desert with two females ; it would be running certain 
ruin.” 

“ That is true ; but what can we do ?” 

It is my intention to proceed to the Larch-tree hacienda. There, I fancy, 
my daughter will obtain the best protection for the present.” 

“ Permit me to remind you that yourself refused to have recourse to that.” 

“ That is true ; hence I only resolve on it when in a fix. As for you ” 

“ Oh, I will accompany you,” said Loyal Heart. 

Thanks,” the Canadian exclaimed, warmly. “ Still, in spite of all the 
pleasure your generous offer occasions me, I cannot accept it.” 

“Why not?” 

“ Because the nation which had adopted you claims your help, and you cannot 
refuse it.” 

“ It will wait ; besides. Black-deer will make my excuses.” 

“ No,” the chief said, distinctly ; “ I will not leave my pale friends in 
danger.” 

“ By Jove ! ” Tranquil exclaimed, “as it is so we shall have some fun ; hang 
it all, if five resolute and well-armed men cannot get the best of a hundred 
Apaches. Listen to me, comrades : while I go ostensibly to the meeting I have 
granted Blue-fox, follow me in Indian file, and be ready to appear directly I give 
you the signal by imitating the cry of the mocking bird.” 

“ All right.” 

“ You, Lanzi and Quoniam, will watch over Carmela.” 

“ We will all watch over her, friend, trust to us,” said Loyal Heart. 

Tranquil gave his comrades a parting farewell, threw his rifle over his 
shoulder, and left the encampment. He had hardly disappeared ere the hunters 
lay down on the ground and crawled on his trail, Carmela guided by Singing- 
bird forming the rear guard. The maiden felt an involuntary shudder run over 
her limbs as she entered the forest. This night march, whose issue might prove 
so fatal, terrified her. 

Fray Antonio had gone hardly five hundred yards from the forest when a man 
suddenly emerged from a thicket and barred his passage. The monk suppressed 
with difficulty a cry of terrror at this unexpected apparition, and started back. 
But immediately regaining his coolness, he prepared to sustain the terriblo 


A Metamorphosis, 




contest that doubtless m^Tced him, for he had recognised Blue-fox at the first 
glance. The chief exattt'fned nim in silence, fixing on him his deep black eye 
with an expression of suspicion which did not escape the monk. 

“ My father has been a long time,” he at length said. 

“ I could not be any quicker,” the monk answered. 

*’ Wah ! my father returns alone j the great pale warrior was afraid ; he did 
not accompany my father.” 

” You are mistaken, chief ; the man you call the great pale hunter, and whom 
I call Tranquil, was not afraid, and did hot refuse to accompany me.” 

'' Och ! Blue-fox is a sachem ; his eye pierces the darkness ; though he may 
look he sees nothing.” 

“ That is probably because you do not look in the right direction, that’s all.” 

Blue-fox desires to know how his pale friend carried out the mission the 
sachem confided to him.” 

“ I took the best advantage possible of my meeting with the hunter, in order 
to carry out your orders.” 

“ My father will pardon me, I am only a poor Indian without brains. Will 
the great pale hunter come ? ” 

“ I left him over there, at the verge of the forest. He is waiting for the 
chief.” 

Blue-fox started, and fixing on the monk a glance which seemed trying to 
read his most secret thoughts. 

“ Why did he not accompany my father here ? ” he said. 

The monk assumed the most simple look possible. 

“On my faith, I do not know,” heawswered; “but of what consequence is it?” 

“ It is pleasanter to converse on the prairie.” 

“ Do you think so ? Well, it is possible. For my own part I do not see any 
difference between here and there.” 

In spite of his craft the chief was deceived. 

“ Has the great pale hunter come alone ? ” 

“ No,” Fray Antonio replied, boldly. 

“ If that be so. Blue-fox will not go.” 

“ The chief will reflect.” 

“ What is the use of reflecting ? The father has deceived his red friend.” 

“ The hunter could not come alone.” 

“ Why not?” 

“ Because he did not wish to leave in the forest the girl who accompanies 
him .” 

The Indian’s face suddenly brightened, and assumed an expression of 
extraordinary cunning. 

“ Wah ! ” he said, “ and no other person but the young pale virgin 
accompanies the hunter ? ” 

“No, k seems that the other white warriors who were with him left him at 
daybreak.” 

“ Does my father know where they are gone ? ” 

“ I did not inquire. That does not concern me.” 

“ My father is a wise man.” 

These words were rapidly exchanged between the two men. Fray Antonio 
had answered so naturally, and with such well-played frankness, that the Indian, 
whose secret thoughts the Mexican’s answers flattered, felt all his suspicioiu 
vanish. 

“ Och ! ” he said, “ Blue-fox will see his friend.” 

The father can return to the camp.” 




The Freebooters, 


“ No, thank you, chief,” the monk answered, “ I prefer remaining with peoola 
of my own colour.” 

Blue-fox reflected for an instant, and then replied, with an ironical smile 
playing round his thin lips — 

“ Good ; my father is right. He can follow me, then.” 

“ It is evident,” the monk thought to himself, “ that this accursed pagan is 
i'.evising some treachery. But I will watch him, and at the slightest suspicious 
movement I will blow out his brains like the dog he is.” 

But he kept these reflections to himself, and followed the chief with an easy 
and perfectly indifferent air. In the moonbeams, which allowed objects to be 
distinguished for a considerable distance, they soon perceived on the extreme 
verge of the forest the dark outline of a man leaning on a rifle. 

Blue-fox, though he placed confidence in his companion, only advanced, how- 
ever, with extreme caution and prudence, examining the shrubs and even the 
smallest tufts of grass, as if assuring himself that they concealed no enemy. 
But, with the exception of the man they perceived before them, the place 
seemed plunged in profound solitude ; all was calm and motionless. 

“ Let us stop here,” said Fray Antonio, “ it would be imprudent for us to 
advance further without announcing ourselves, although the hunter has pro- 
bably recognised us already. 

“ That is true ; it is as well to be cautious.” 

They stopped at about twenty yards from the covert, where Fray Antonio 
placed his hands funnel-wise and shouted to the full extent of his lungs — 

“ Hilloh ! Tranquil, is that you ? ” 

“ Who calls me ? ” the latter answered. 

“ I — Fray Antonio. I am accompanied by the person you are expecting.” 

“ Advance,” Tranquil replied, “ Those who seek me with no thought of 
treachery have nothing to fear.” 

“ What shall we do ?” asked the monk, 

“ Go on,” Blue-fox replied, laconically. 

The distance which separated them from the hunter was soon covered ; and 
the Mexican becoming an impromptu master of the ceremonies, presented the 
two men to each other. The sachem took a searching glance around him. 

“ I do not see the young pale girl,” he said, 

“Did you wish to speak to her or to me?” the Canadian answered, drily. 
“ I am ready to listen to you.” 

The Indian frowned ; his suspicions were returning ; he gave a menacing 
glance at the monk, who, obeying the advice given him, had insensibly with- 
drawn a few steps and was preparing to be an apparently calm witness of the 
coming scene. 

“ I only wished to speak to my brother,” he replied, in an insinuating voice ; 
** Biae-fox has for many moons desired to see again the face of a friend.” 

“ If it were really as the chief says,” the hunter continued, “ nothing could 
have been more easy. Many years have been swallowed up in the immense 
gulf of the past, since the period when, young and full of faith, I called Blue, 
lox my iriend. At that period he had a Pawnee heart ; but now that he has 
plucked i» from his bosom, to exchange it for an Apache heart, I know him not.” 

“ Thegr 'at hunter of the pale-faces is severe,” the Indian answered. “ What 
matter the days that have passed, if the hunter finds again his friend of the 
olden time ? ’ 

“ Am I an old woman, to be deceived by the smooth words of a forked 
tongue ? ” sa' d the Canadian, as he shrugged his shoulders. “ Blue-fox is dead ^ 
tny eyes only see him as an Apache chief, that is an enemy.” 


A M etarn orp k o Jt5. 




“ Let my brother remove the skin from his heart, he will recognise a friend,’ 
the Indian continued. 

Tranquil felt impatient at such cynical impudence. 

“ A truce to fine speeches, whose sincerity I do not believe in,” he said. 
“ Was he my friend who a few days ago tried to carry off my daughter, and at 
the head of his warriors attacked the calli in which she dwelt, and which is now 
reduced to ashes ? ” 

My brother has heard the mocking-bird whisper in his ear, and put faith in 
its falsehoods. 

“ You are more chattering and lying than the mocker,” Tranquil exclaimed, 
as he violently stamped the butt of his rifle on the ground. For the last time 
I repeat to you I regard you not as a friend, but as an enemy. Now, we have 
nothing more to say to one another, so let us separate.” 

The Indian took a piercing glance around him, and his eye sparkled 
ferociously. 

“ We will not part thus,” he said, as he walked two or three steps nearer the 
hunter, who still remained motionless, attentively following his every movement, 
while affecting the most perfect confidence. 

As for Fray Antonio, he understood that the moment for acting vigorously 
was fast approaching, and while continuing to feign the most perfect indiffer- 
ence to the interview of which he was witness, he had quietly drawn the pistols 
from under his gown, and held them cocked in his hand. The situation was 
growing most awkward between the two speakers : each was preparing for the 
struggle, although their faces were still calm and their voices gentle. 

“ Yes,” Tranquil continued, “ we will part thus, chief, and may heaven grant 
that we may never find ourselves face to face again.” 

“ But the hunter will answer one question.” 

“ I will not, for this conversation has lasted too long.” 

And he fell back a pace. The sachem stretched forth his arm to stop him, 

“ I will not speak to a foe,” the Canadian replied. 

‘‘Then die, miserable dog of a paie-face,” the chief exclaimed, at length 
throwing off the mask and brandishing his tomahawk with extreme rapidity. 

But at the same instant a man rose like a black phantom behind the Apache 
chief, threw his arms round his body, and lifting him with a wondrous strength, 
hurled him to the ground, and placed his knee on his chest, ere the sachem, 
surprised and alarmed by this sudden attack, had attempted to defend 
himself. 

At the yell uttered by Blue-fox, some fifty Apache warriors appeared as if by 
enchantment, but almost at the same moment the hunter’s comrades, who, 
although invisible, had attentively followed the incidents of this scene, stood 
by the Canadian’s side. Fray Antonio at once brought down two Apaches 
with his pistols, and rejoined the whites. 

Two groups of implacable enemies were thus opposed ; unfortunately, the 
hunters were very weak against the numerous foes that surrounded them on ail 
sides. Still their firm demeanour and flashing eyes evinced their unbending 
resolution to be killed sooner than surrender. 

It was an imposing spectacle offered by this handful of men surrounded 
by implacable foes, and who yet seemed as calm as if they were peaceably 
seated round their camp-fire. Carmela and Singing-bird, suffering from sharp 
pangs of terror, pressed all in a tremor to the side of their friends. 

Blue-fox still lay on the ground, held down by Black-deer, whose knee com. 
pressed his chest, and neutralised all the tremendous efforts he made to rise. 
The Apaches, with their long barbed arrows pointed at the hunteis, only awaited 


54 


The Freebooters, 


a word or a sign to begin the attack. A silence of death brooded over the 
prairie : it seemed as if these men, before tearing each other lo pieces, were 
collecting all their strength to bound forward and rush on each other. Black- 
deer was ihe first to break the silence. 

“ Wah ! ” he shouted in a voice rendered hoarse with passion, as he 
brandished his scalping-knife over his enemy’s head ; “ at length I meet thee, 
dog, thief, chicken-heart ; I hold my vengeance in my hands ; at last thy scalp 
will adorn my horse’s mane.” 

“ Thou art but a chattering old woman ; thy insults cannot affect me, so try 
something else. Blue-fox laughs at thee; thou canst not compel him to utter 
a cry of pain or make a complaint.” 

“ I will follow thy advice,” Black-deer shouted, passionately, and seized hi3 
enemy’s scalp-lock. 

“ Stop,” the Canadian shouted, in a thundering voice, as he seized the arm of 
the vindictive chief. “ Let that man rise.” 

Black-deer gave him a ferocious glance, but made no reply 

“ It must be so,” the hunter said. 

The Comanche chief bent his head, restored his enemy to liberty, and fell 
back a pace. With one bound Blue-fox sprang up ; but, instead of attempting 
flight, he crossed his arms on his chest, resuming that mask of impenetrable 
stoicism which Indians so rarely doff. Tranquil regarded him for a moment 
with a singular expression, and then said, — 

“ I was wrong just now, and my brother must pardon me. No, the memories 
of youth are not effaced like clouds which the wind bears away. When I saw 
the terrible danger that menaced Blue-fox, my heart was affected, and I remem- 
bered that we had been friends. I trembled to see his blood flow before me. 
Blue-fox is a great chief, he must die as a warrior in the sunshine, he is free to 
rejoin his friends.” 

The chief raised his head. 

“ On what conditions ?” he said drily. 

“ On none. If the Apache warriors attack us, we will fight them ; if not, we 
will continue our journey peacefully. The chief must decide.” 

Tranquil, in acting as he had done, had given a proof of the profound know- 
ledge he possessed of the red-skin character, among whom any heroic action is 
immediately appreciated at its full value. It was a dangerous game to play, 
but the situation of the hunters was desperate, despite their courage ; if the 
fight had begun, they must have been naturally crushed by numbers, and 
pitilessly massacred. For the success of his plan the Canadian could only cal- 
culate on a good feeling on the part of Blue-fox, and he staked his all. 

After carefully listening to Tranquil’s remarks, Blue-fox remained silent for 
some minutes, during which a violent combat went on in his heart ; he felt he 
was the dupe of the snare into which he had tried to draw the hunter by 
reminding him of their old friendship ; but the murmurs of admiration which 
his warriors were unable to suppress, on seeing the Canadian’s noble deed, 
warned him that he must dissimulate. 

The power of an Indian chief is always very precarious ; and he is often 
constrained, in spite of himself, to bow before the demands of his subordinates, 
if he does not wish to be overthrown and have a new chief set up immediately 
in his place. Blue-fox, therefore, slowly drew his scalping-knife from his belt, 
and let it fall at the hunter’s feet. 

“ The great white hunter and his brothers can continue to follow their path,” 
he said ; “ the eyes of the Apache warriors are closed, they will not see them. 
The pale-faces can depart, they will find no one on their road till the second 


The Summons* 


55 


rr.s-^'yn from this ; but then they must take care ; an Apache chief will set him. 
self on their trail, in order to ask back from them the knife he leaves them, and 
which he will require.” 

“ When Blue-fox asks me for it, he will find it,” said the Canadian, as he 
stooped down and picked \ip the knife. 

“ Och ! I will manage to take it again. Now, we are even. Farewell !” 

The chief then bowed courteously to his enemies, made a prodigious bound 
back, and disappeared in the lofty grass. The Apache warriors uttered their 
war-yell twice, and almost immediately their black outlines disappeared in the 
gloom. 

“ Now, we will set out,” said Tranquil, “the road is free.” 

You got out of the scrape cleverly,” Loyal Heart said to him ; “but it was 
a terrible risk.” 

The Canadian smiled, but made no further reply. Then they started. 


CHAPTER XII. 

THE SUMMONS. 

FunopEANS, accustomed to the gigantic wars of the Old World, have a difficulty in 
toiming an idea of the way in which war is waged in certain parts of America. 

Texas, at the period when it claimed its independence, in a contest of ten years, 
SO obstinately, counted over its entire territory only a population of less than 
one hundred thousand — a very weak and modest amount, when compared with 
the’ seven millions of the Mexican confederation. But the Texan population 
was composed, in a great measure, of North Americans — energetic, enterprising 
men, of known courage, who, annoyed by the long-lasting tyranny the Federal 
government exercised over them, through jealousy and narrowness of views, had 
sworn to be free at any price, and took up arms in order to guarantee the pos- 
session of their estates, and their personal security. 

The struggle had been going on for ten years ; at first timid and secret, it had 
gradually widened, holding in check the Mexican power, and at length attained 
that final and supreme period when the alternative is victory or death. 

The surprise of the conducta, so skilfully managed by the Jaguar, had been 
the electric spark destined to definitely galvanise the country, and make it rise 
as one man for this modern Thermopylae. The independent chiefs, who were 
fighting all along the border, had, at the unexpected news of the decisive success 
obtained by the Jaguar, assembled their cuadrillas, and, by common agreement, 
and through an heroic impulse, ranged themselves under the banners of the 
youthful chieftain, and pledged him obedience, in order to carry through the 
liberation of their country. 

The Jaguar’s army was composed of men hardened by lengthened fighting, 
who burned to cope with the Mexicans, ana who, before all, wished to be free ! 
No more was needed for them to accomplish miracles. The Jaguar was 
thoroughly acquainted with the character of his soldiers ; he knew that he must 
only ask one thing of them — an impossibility — and this he had, consequently, 
determined to attempt. 

Through the wish of the new commander-in-chief, all the captains of cuad- 
niias assembled in a council of war, in order to draw up a plan of campaign. 


The Freelooters, 




Each party gave his opinion. The debate was short, for all entertained the 
same idea — and that was, to seize on the Larch-tree hacienda, in order to cut off 
the communications of the Mexican army, prevent it from receiving reinforce- 
ments from the other states of the confederation, and, once masters of the 
fortress, to defeat in detail the different Mexican detachments scattered ove? 
Texan territory. As this plan was remarkably simple, the Jaguar resolved to 
carry it out immediately. After leaving a detachment of five hundred horsemen 
to cover his rear, and avoid any surprise, he advanced with his main body 
by forced marches on the Larch-tree, with the intention of investing and 
carrying it by assault ere the Mexicans had found time to put a garrison in it 
and throw up intrenchments. 

Unfortunately, despite all the diligence the Jaguar had displayed in the 
execution of his plan, the Mexicans, owing to the lengthened experience and 
infallible glance of General Rubio, had been more prompt than he, and the 
place had been in a perfect state of defence two days ere the Texan army 
appeared at the foot of its walls. 

This disappointment greatly annoyed the Jaguar, but did not discourage him ; 
he saw that he would have to lay siege to the Larch-tree, and bravely made his 
preparations. The Americans dug up the soil with wondrous rapidity, and a 
night was sufficient for them to finish the preparatory works, and make breast- 
works and parapets. The Mexicans gave no signs of life, and allowed the 
insurgents to establish themselves in their lines without opposition ; by sunrise 
all was finished. 

It was a strange spectacle offered by this handful of men, who, without 
artillery or siege material of any description, boldly traced lines round a stoutly- 
built fortress, admirably situated for resistance, and defended by a numerous 
garrison, which was determined not to surrender. But what in this heroic 
madness produced admiration, and almost stupor, was the conviction these men 
had that they would eventually take the place. 

As they arrived after sunset, when the night had all but set in, the Texans had 
formed an imperfect idea of the defenceless state of the place which they 
proposed to besiege ; hence, when day broke, they eagerly proceeded to see what 
enemy they would have to deal with. The surprise was anything but agreeable 
to them, and they were compelled to confess to themselves in their hearts that 
the job would be a tough one. This surprise was changed almost into dis- 
couragement when the fortress hoisted the Mexican flag, saluting it with several 
rounds of grape-shot, which fell into the centre of the camp, and killed and 
wounded some fifteen men. 

But this movement of weakness was but short ; a reaction speedily took place, 
and it was with hurrahs and shouts of joy that they displayed the colours of 
Texan independence. For valid reasons they did not accompany the hoisting 
of their flag by cannon-shots, but they saluted it with salvos of musketry, 
whose well-sustained fire gave back to the besieged the death they had scattered 
through the camp. 

The Jaguar, after examining the fortifications, resolved to proceed according 
to rule, and summon the place to surrender before beginning the siege. Gmse- 
quently, he hoisted a white flag on the top of the intrenchments, and waited ; a 
few moments later, a flag of the same colour appeared on the breastwork outside 
the place. 

The Jaguar, preceded by a trumpeter, followed by two or three officers, left 
the camp and ascended the hill on which the hacienda was situated. A number 
of officers equal to his own had left the place and advanced to meet him. On 
arriving at about an equal distance from the tv/o lines, the Jaguar halted, and in 


The Summons, 


SI 


a few minutes the Mexican officers, commanded by Don Felix Paz, joined him« 
After the usual compliments had been exchanged with extreme politeness, the 
major-domo asked — 

“ With whom have I the honour of speaking?” 

“ With the commander-in-chief of the Texan army.” 

“ We do not recognise any Texan army,” the major-domo said drily, “ Texas 
forms an integral portion of Mexico. 

“ If you do not know the one I have the honour of commanding,” the Jaguar 
said with a smile, “ ere long, please Heaven, it will have made so much noise 
hat you will be compelled to recognise it.” 

“ That is possible ; but for the present we do not know it.” 

“ Then, you do not wish to parley ? ” 

“With whom?” 

Come, Caballero, suppose we are frank with one another — are you willing ?'’ 

“ I wish for nothing better.” 

“ You know as well as I do that we are fighting for our independence.” 

“ Very good. In that case you are insurgents ? ” 

“ Certainly, and feel proud of the title.” 

“ Hum ! we do not treat with insurgents, who are placed beyond the pale of 
the law.” 

“ Caballero,” the Jaguar exclaimed, “ I have the honour of remarking that 
you insult me.” 

“ I am very sorry for it ; but what other answer than that can I give you ? 

“ Are you the commandant ?” asked the Jaguar. 

“ No.” 

“ Hum f and who is the governor of the place ? ” 

“ A colonel.” 

“ Why did he not come in person to meet me ? ” 

“ Because he probably did not think it worth while.” 

“ Hum ! that way of behaving seems to me rather lax, for war has laws which 
every man is bound to follow.” 

“ May be, but it is not war in this case, but insurrection.” 

“ Well, I wish to speak with your commandant, for I can only treat with 
him. Are you disposed to let me see him ? ” 

“ That does not depend on me, but on him.” 

“ Can I trust to your delivering my message ? ” 

“ I do not see why I should not.” 

“ Be kind enough, then, to return at once to him, and I will wait for you 
here.” 

“ Very well.” 

The two men bowed courteously, and took leave of each other. Don Felix Paz 
re-entered the fortress, while the Jaguar, sitting on the trunk of a felled tree, 
examined with the greatest attention the fortifications of the hacienda, the 
details of which he could easily survey from the spot where he now was. The 
young man leaned his elbow on his knee, and let his head rest on his hand ; his 
eyes wandered over the surrounding objects with an expression of indefinable 
melancholy ; gradually a gloomy sadness seized on his mind ; while indulging 
in his thoughts, external objects disappeared from his sight, and isolating 
himself completely, he gave way to the flood of bitter recollections which rose 
from his heart to his brain, and removed him from the pre-occupations of his 
present situation. 

For a long time he had been plunged in this species of prostration, when a 
friendly voice smote his ear. The Jaguar, suddenly drawn from his reverie by 


58 


The Freehooters^ 


the sound of a voice which he fancied he recognised, threw up his head sharply, 
and gave a start of surprise on recognising Don Juan Melendez de Gongora, for 
it was really the colonel who was now addressing him. 

“ Back, gentlemen,” said the Texan chief; “ this gentleman and myself have 
private matters to talk about.” 

The Texans withdrew out of ear-shot. The colonel was alone, for on recog- 
nising the Jaguar, he had ordered his escort to await him at the base of the 
intrenchments. 

“ I meet you here again then, my friend,” the Jaguar said sadly. 

“ Yes,” the young officer answered ; “ fatality seems determined to keep us in 
constant opposition.” 

On examining the height and strength of your walls,” the Independent 
continued, “ I had already recognised the difficulties of the task forced on me ; 
these difficulties have now grown almost into impossibilities.” 

“ Alas I my friend, fate wills it so; we are forced to submit to its caprices ; and 
while in my heart deploring what takes place, I am yet resolved to do my duty 
as a man of honour.” 

“I know it, brother; for I too am resolved to carry out the difficult task 
imposed on me.” 

“ Such are the terrible exigencies of civil war.” 

“ Heaven and our country will judge us, friend, and our consciences will 
absolve us ; men are not combating, but principles fatally placed in opposition.” 

“ I was not aware that you were the chief of the insurrectionery bands that have 
invested the place, although a secret foreboding warned me of your presence.” 

“That is strange,” the Jaguar muttered, “for I also felt the same fore- 
boding ; that is why I so strongly insisted on having an interview with the 
commandant.” 

“The same reason urged me, on the contrary, not to show myself; but [ 
thought I must yield to your entreaty, and hence here I am ; but I could have 
wished to avoid this interview.” 

“It is better that it should have taken place ; now that we have had a frank 
explanation.” 

“ You are right ; it is perhaps better that it should be so; let me press your 
honest hand for the last time.” 

“ Here is my hand, friend,” the young chief made answer. 

The two men shook hands, and then fell back a few paces, making a signal 
to their respective escorts to rejoin them. When the officers were ranged be- 
hind the chiefs, the Jaguar ordered his bugler to sound the summons; the latter 
obeyed, and the Mexican trumpet immediately replied. The Jaguar then ad- 
vanced two paces, and courteously took oif his hat to the colonel. 

“ With whom have I the honour of speaking ? ” he asked. 

“I am,” the officer replied, returning the salute, “Colonel Don Juan Melendez 
de Gongora, invested by General Don Jose- Maria Rubio, commander-in-chief 
of the Mexican forces in Texas, with the military government of the Larch-tree 
hacienda, which present circumstances have raised to the rank of a first-class 
fortress ; and who may you be, caballero ? ” 

“ I,” the Jaguar answered, as he placed his hat again on his head, “ am the 
supreme chief of the Confederated Army of Texas.” 

“ The men who take that name, and the person who commands them, can 
only be regarded by me as traitors.” 

“ We care little, colonel, what name you give us. We have taken up arms 
to render our country independent, and shall not lay them down till that noble 
task is accomplished. I have proposals I think it my duty to make you.” 


Tiie Sumrnons. 


59 


“ I cannot treat with rebels,” the colonel said. 

“ You will act as you please, colonel ; but humanity orders you to avoid 
bloodshed, if possible, and your duty imperiously commands you to listen to 
what I have to say to you.” 

“ Be it so, Caballero, I will listen to you, and then will see what answer I have 
to give you.” 

The Jaguar leaned the point of his sabre on the ground, and continued, in a 
loud and firm voice — ■ 

“ I, the commander-in-chief of the Liberating Army of Texas, summon you, 
a colonel in the service of the Mexican Republic, whose sovereignty we no 
longer recognise, to surrender to us this Larch-tree hacienda, of which you call 
yourself the governor. If, within twenty-four hours, the said hacienda is put 
into our hands, with all it contains — guns, ammunition, material of war, and 
otherwise, the garrison will quit the place with the honours of war, under arms, 
with drums and fifes playing. Then, after laying down their arms, the garrison 
will be free to retire to the interior of Texas, after making oath that during a 
year and a day they will not serve in Texas against the Liberating Army.” 

“ Have you ended ? ” the colonel asked. 

“ Not yet,” the Jaguar coldly answered. 

“ I must ask you to make haste.” 

On seeing these two men exchange savage glances, and placed in such a 
hostile position face to face, no one would have supposed that they groaned in 
their hearts at the painful part fate compelled them to play against their will. 
The truth was, that in one military fanaticism, in the other an ardent love of 
his country, had imposed silence on every other feeling, and only permitted 
them to listen to one, the most imperious of all — the sentiment of duty. The 
Jaguar continued in the same resolute accent — 

“ If, against my expectations, these conditions are refused, and the place 
obstinately defends itself, the Army of Liberation will immediately invest it, 
carry on the siege with all the vigour of which it is capable, and when the 
hacienda is captured, it will undergo the fate of towns taken by assault ; the 
garrison will be decimated, and remain prisoners till the end of the war.” 

“ Very good,” the colonel replied, ironically; “ however harsh these conditions 
may be, we prefer them to the former.” 

The Jaguar bowed ceremoniously. 

“ I have only to withdraw,” he said. 

” One moment,” the colonel said. “ You have explained your conditions, 
now hear mine.” 

“ What conditions can you have to offer us, since you refuse to surrender?” 

“ You shall hear.” 

“ I,” he said, in a sharp and sarcastic voice, “ Don Juan de Melendez de 
Gongora, colonel in the service of the Mexican Republic, considering that the 
majority of the individuals assembled at this moment at the foot of my walls 
are poor, ignorant men, whom bad example and bad counsel have led into a 
revolt, which they detest in their hearts — employing the prerogative given mo 
by my title of governor of a first-class fortress, and a field officer in the Mexican 
army, I promise fhat if they immediately lay down their arms, and, as a proof 
of sincere repentance, surrender to me the chiefs who deceived them and led 
them into revolt — I promise them, I repeat, complete pardon and oblivion of the 
faults they may have committed up to to-day, but only on this condition. They 
have till sunset of the present day to make their submission ; when that period 
is passed, they will be regarded as inveterate rebels, and treated as such — 
that is to say, hanged without trial, after their identity has been proved, and 


€o 


The Freebooters. 


deprived, in their last moments, of the consolations of religion, as being un- 
worthy of them. As for the chiefs, as traitors, they will be shot in the back, 
and their bodies fastened by the feet on gibbets, where they will remain as food 
for birds of prey, and serve as an example to those who may venture in their 
♦rack.” 

His hearers had listened with increasing surprise to this strange address, 
uttered in a tone of sarcasm and haughty contempt, which had filled the hearts 
of the Jaguar’s comrades wuth gall, while the Mexican officers looked at each 
other with a laugh. By a sign, the Jaguar imposed silence on his comrades, 
and bowed respectfully to the colonel. 

“Your will be done,” he said to him; “the blood shed will fall on your head.'* 

“ I accept the responsibility,” the commandant remarked, disdainfully. 

“ We will fight, then,” the Jaguar exclaimed, enthusiastically. “ Hurrah for 
Texas ! ” 

This cry, repeated by his comrades, was heard in the camp, and taken up with 
extraordinary enthusiasm. 

“ Viva Mejico ! ” the colonel said. 

He then retired, followed by his officers. On his side, the Jaguar returned to 
his camp, resolved to attempt a vigorous hand-stroke on the place. On both 
sides preparations were made for the implacable struggle that was about li> begia 
between members of the same family and children of the same soil. 


CHAPTER XIII. 

THE SIEGE. 

While all this was going on, the hunters resumed their journey, so soon as the 
Apaches disappeared. The night was clear, and the hunters marched in Indian 
file, that is to say, one after the other; still, through a prudential motive, 
Carmela was placed pillion-wise behind Tranquil, while Singing-bird rode with 
Black-deer. 

The Canadian had whispered a few words to Lanzi and Quoniam, upon which 
the two men, without replying, spurred their horses, and started at a gallop. 

“ When you have ladies with you,” Tranquil said, “it is necessary to take 
precautions.” 

The hunter, however, did not ask him for any explanation, and the four men 
continued their march in silence. During the whole night nothing occurred to 
disturb their journey ; the Apaches kept their word faithfully. Tranquil had 
not for a moment doubted their promise. At times the hunter turned to the 
maiden, and asked her with ill-disguised anxiety if she felt fatigued, but Carmela 
constantly replied in the negative. A few minutes before sunrise he bent down 
to her for the last time. 

“ Ceurage,” he said, “ we shall soon be there.” 

The girl attempted to smile, but this long night spent on horseback had 
crushed her ; she could not even find the courage to answer, so annihilated was 
she, and Tranquil, anxious for jiis daughter, hurried on. Still in the sunbeams, 
whose warmth caressed her, the maiden felt new-born, her courage returned, and 
she drew herself up with a sigh of relief. Two hours later they reached the 
base of a hill, half-way up which was a natural grotto. 


The Siege* 


6i 


•"Oar friends are expecting us there,” said Tranquil. 

A few moments later the little band entered the grotto on horseback, without 
leaving any traces of its passage. This grotto, like many others in that 
pountry, possessed several entrances, and through this peculiarity it often serv'ed 
as a refuge to the wood-rangers. It was divided into several compartments, 
without visible communication with each other, and formed a species of maze 
under the whole of the hill. On the prairie the name of the Jaguar’s grotto had 
been given it. 

The two hunters, sent forward by the Canadian, were seated by an enormous 
fire of heather, and quietly roasting a magnificent haunch of venison, as they 
silently smoked their pipes. Although they must have been waiting a long time 
for their friends, on the arrival of Tranquil and his comrades they contented 
themselves with a slight bow, and did not evince the slightest desire to know 
what had occurred since their departure. Tranquil led the two females into a 
grotto a considerable distance from the principal one. 

“ Here,” he said in a gentle whisper, “ you must speak as little as possible, 
and as low as you can, for you never know what neighbours you may have ; pay 
great attention to this piece of advice, for your safety depends on it. If you 
require me, or have an inclination to join us, you know where we are, and it is 
an easy matter for you to come ; good-bye.” 

His daughter caught him by the arm for a moment, and whispered in his ear. 
He bowed in reply, and went out. When the two females found themselves 
alone, their first impulse was to fall into each other’s arms. This first emotion 
past, they lay on the ground with that feeling of comfort which is experienced 
when you have sighed during a long period for a rest, the want of which you 
greatly feel. At the expiration of about an hour Tranquil returned. 

“ Are you going to start again ?” Carmela asked. 

“ On the contrary, I expect to remain here till sunset.” 

Heaven be praised ! ” the maiden exclaimed. 

“ I have come to tell you that breakfast is ready, and that we are only await- 
ing your presence to begin.” 

“ Eat without us, papa,” Carmela answered ; at this moment we have more 
need of sleep than anything else.” 

“ Sleep if you like ; I have brought you, however, male clothing, which I must 
ask you to put on.” 

“ What, father ! dress ourselves as men?” Carmela said, in surprise and with 
a slight repugnance. 

“ You must, child — it is indispensable.” 

“ In that case I will obey you, father.” 

“ Thank you, my daughter.” 

The hunter withdrew, and the two young women soon fell asleep. Their 
sleep lasted a long time, for the sun was beginning to sink beneath the horizon, 
when they awoke, completely recovered from their fatigue. Carmela, fresh and 
rosy, felt no effects of the long sleeplessness of the preceding night ; and the 
Indian girl, stronger or more hardened, had not suffered so much as her com- 
panion. The two girls then began, while chattering and laughing, to prepare 
everything necessary for their disguise. 

“ Let us begin our toilette,” Carmela said gaily to Singing-bird. 

At the moment when they were removing their dresses, they heard the noise 
of footsteps near them, and turned like two startled fawns, thinking that 
Tranquil was coming to see whether they were awake ; but a few words dis- 
tinctly pronounced, caused them to listen, and stand quivering with emotion, 
surprise, and curiosity. 


53 


The Freebooters. 


“ My brother has been a long time,” the voice had said, which seemed to belong 
to a man standing scarce three paces from them ; “ I have been expecting him 
for two hours.” 

“ By Heaven, chief, your remark is perfectly correct ; but it was impossible 
for me to come sooner,” another person immediately answered. 

“ My brother will speak without loss of time.” 

“ That is what I intend doing.” 

At this moment Tranquil came up. The young women laid the fore-finger 
on their lips ; the hunter understood, and advanced on tip-toe to listen. 

“ The Jaguar,” the second speaker continued, “ desires most eagerly that, in 
accordance with the promise you made him, you should join his army.” 

“ Up to the present that has been impossible.” 

“ Blue-fox 1 ” Tranquil muttered. 

“ I warn you, that he accuses you of breach of faith.” 

“ The pale chief is wrong ; a sachem is not a chattering old woman. This 
evening I shall join him with two hundred picked warriors.” 

“ We shall see, chief.” 

“ At the first song of the mankawis, the Apache warriors will enter the 
camp.” 

“ All the better. The Jaguar is preparing a general assault on the fort, and 
only awaits your arrival.” 

“ I repeat, that the Apaches will not fail.” 

“ Those confounded Mexicans fight like derrions ; the man who commands 
them seems to have galvanised them, they second him so well. There was only 
one good officer in the Mexican army, and we were obliged to fight against him. 
It is really most unlucky.” 

“ The chief of the Yoris is not invulnerable. The arrows of the Apaches are 
long — they will kill him.” 

“ Nonsense,” the other said ; “ this man seems to have a charm that protects 
him, no bullet can hit him.” 

“ While coming to this grotto, Blue-fox raised the scalp of a chief who was 
the bearer of a necklace.” 

“ A letter, by Heavens ! ” the other exclaimed anxiously ; “ what have you 
done with it ? You have not destroyed it, I trust ?” 

“ No, the chief has kept it.” 

“ Show it to me, perhaps it is important.” 

Wah ! it is some medicine of the pale-faces ; a chief does not want it ; my 
brother can take it.” 

“ Thanks !” 

Tl'icre was a moment’s silence, during which the hearts of the three hearers 
might have been heard beating in unison, so great was their anxiety. 

“By Jove!” the white man suddenly burst out; “a letter addressed to 
Colonel Don Juan Melendez de Gongora, commandant of the Larch-tree, by 
General Rubio. You were in luck’s way, chief. Are you sure that the bearer of 
this letter is dead ? ” 

But while speaking thus, the two men had withdrawn, and the sound of 
their voices was lost in the distance, so that it was impossible to hear the 
answer. 

The two women turned round. Tranquil had disappeared, and they were 
again alone. Carmela, after listening to this strange conversation, of which 
accident allowed her to catch a few fragments, had fallen into a profound reverie, 
which her companion, with that sense of propriety innate in Indians, was careful 
not to disturb. 


The Siege. 


^3 


571 the meanwhile time slipped away, the gloom grew denser in the grotto, 
for night had set in ; the two young women, afraid to remain alone in the 
obscurity, were preparing to rejoin their companions, when they heard the sound 
ol footsteps, and Tranquil entered. 

“ Come,” the Canadian said, after examining them for a moment; “we are 
going to try and enter the Larch-tree hacienda. Now follow me, and be 
prudent.” 

The eight persons left the grotto, gliding along in the darkness like 
phantoms. 

No one, unless he has tried the experiment, can imagine what a night-march 
on the desert is, when you are afraid each moment of falling into the hands of 
invisible enemies, who watch you behind every bush. Tranquil had placed him- 
self at the dead of the little party, who marched in Indian file, at times stooping 
to the ground, going on his hands and knees, or crawling on his stomach so as 
to avoid notice. 

Fortunately the Indians keep very bad guard, and most generally only place 
sentries to frighten the enemy. On this occasion, as they knew very well, they 
had no sortie to apprehend on the part of the Larch-tree garrison, the sentinels 
were nearly all asleep ; but the slightest badly-calculated move, the merest false 
step, might arouse them, for these men, who are habituated in keeping their 
senses alive, can hardly ever be taken unawares. 

At about two hundred yards at the most from the adventurers were the 
advanced works of the Larch -tree, gloomy, silent, and apparently, at least, 
abandoned or plunged in sleep. Tranquil had only stopped to let his comrades 
fully understand the imminent danger to which they were exposed, and urge 
them to redouble their caution, for, at the slightest weakness, they would be lost. 
After this they started again. They advanced thus for one hundred yards, or 
about half the distance separating them from the Larch-tree, when suddenly, at 
the moment when Tranquil stretched out his arms to shelter himself behind a 
sand-hill, several men, crawling in the opposite direction, found themselves face 
to face with him. There was a second of terrible anxiety. 

“ Who goes there ?” a low and menacing voice asked. 

“ Oh ! ” he said ; “ we are saved ! It is I — Tranquil the Tigrero.” 

“ Who are the persons with you ?” 

“ Wood-rangers, for whom I answer.” 

“ Very good ; pass on.” 

The two parties separated, and crawled in opposite directions. The band with 
which the hunters exchanged these few words was commanded by Don Felix 
Paz, who, more vigilant than the Texans, was making a round of the glacis to 
assure himself that all was quiet, and no surprise need be feared. It was very 
lucky for Tranquil and his companions that the Jaguar, in order to do honour 
to Blue-fox, had this night entrusted the camp-guard to his warriors, and that, 
confiding in the red-skins, the Texans had gone to sleep. 

Ten minutes after their encounter with Don Felix, which might have turned 
out so fatally for them, the hunters reached the gates, and at the mention of 
Tranquil’s name a passage was at once granted them. They were at length in 
safety within the hacienda, and it was high time that they should arrive ; a few 
minutes longer, and Carmela and her companion would have fallen by the way- 
side. In spite of all their courage and good-will, the girls could no longer keep 
up, their strength was exhausted. Hence so soon as the danger had passed, 
and the nervous excitement, which alone sustained them, ceased, they fell down 
unconscious. 

Tranquil raised Carmela in his arms, and carried her to the interior of trn 




The Freehooters. 


hacienda; while Black-deer, who, in spite of his apparent insensibility, adored 
his squaw, hurried up to restore her to life. 

The unexpected arrival of Tranquil caused a general joy among the inhabi* 
tants of the hacienda, who all had a deep friendship for this man, whose glorious 
character they had had so many opportunities of appreciating. The hunter was 
still busied with his daughter, who was just beginning to recover her senses, when 
Don Felix Paz, who had finished his rounds, entered the cuarto, with a message 
from the colonel to the Canadian, begging the latter to come to him at once. 

Tranquil obeyed, for Dona Carmela no longer required his assistance — the 
maiden had scarce regained her senses, ere she fell into a deep sleep, the natural 
result of the enormous fatigue she had endured during several days. While 
proceeding to the colonel’s apartments, Tranquil questioned the major-domo, 
with whom he had been connected for several years, and who had no scruples 
about answering the hunter’s queries. 

Matters were far from being well at the Larch-tree ; the siege was carried on 
with an extraordinary obstinacy on both sides, and with many strange inter- 
ludes. The insurgents greatly annoyed by the artillery of the fort, which killed 
a great many of them, and to which they could not reply, owing to their abso- 
lute want of cannon, had adopted a system of reprisals, which caused the 
besieged considerable injury. This simple system was as follows : The insur- 
gents, who were mostly hunters, were exceedingly skilful makrsmen and re- 
nowned as such in a country where the science of firing is carried to its extrem.e 
limits. A certain number of these mark&men sheltered themselves behind the 
epaulments of the camp ; and each time a gunner attempted to load a piece, 
they infallibly shot away his hands. 

This had been carried so far, that nearly all the gunners were hors de com hat, 
and it was only at very long intervals that a gun was fired from the fort. This 
isolated shot, badly aimed, owing to the precipitancy with which the men laid 
the gun, through their fear of being mutilated, caused but insignificant damage 
to the insurgents. 

On the other hand, the fort was so closely invested, and watched with such 
care that no one could enter or quit it. It was impossible for those in the fort 
to understand how it was that our adventurers had managed to slip in after 
traversing the whole length of the enemy’s camp. 

The garrison of the hacienda lived, then, as if they had been roughly cut off 
from the world, for no sound transpired without, and no news reached them. 
I'liis situation was extremely disagreeable to the Mexicans ; unfortunately for 
them it was daily aggravated, and threatened to become, ere long, completely 
intolerable. Colonel Melendez, since the beginning of the siege, had proved 
himself what he was, that is to say, an officer of rare merit, with a vigilance 
nothing could foil, and the coolest bravery. Seeing his gunners so cruelly deci- 
mated by the Texan bullets, he undertook to take their place, loading the guns 
at his own peril, and firing them at the insurgents. 

Such courage struck the Texans with so great admiration, that although it 
would several times have been easy for them to kill their daring foe, their rifles 
had constantly turned away from this man, who seemed to find a delight in 
braving death. The Jaguar, too, while closely investing the fort, and eagerly 
desiring to carry it, had given peremptory orders to spare the life of his friend, 
whom he could not refrain from pitying and admiring, as much for his courage 
as for his devotion. 

Although it was near midnight, the colonel was still up ; at the moment when 
the hunter was brought to him, he was walking thoughtfully up and down, con- 
sulting from time to time a detailed plan of the fortifications. 


The Siege. 


«5 


TranquiPs arrival caused him great satisfaction, for he hoped to obtain from 
him news from without. Unfortunately, the hunter did not know much about 
tlu; political state of the country, owing to the isolated life he led in the forests. 
Still, he answered with the greatest frankness all the questions the colonel 
thought proper to ask him, and gave him the little information he had been 
enabled to collect ; then he told him the various incidents of his own journey. 
At the name of Carmela the young officer was slightly troubled, and a vivid 
flush suffused his face ; but he recovered, and listened attentively to the hunters 
story. When the latter came to the incident in the grotto, and the fragment of 
conversation he had overheard between the Apache chief and the Texan, his 
interest was greatly excited, and made him repeat the story. 

“Oh, that letter,” he muttered several times, “that letter; what would I not 
give to know its contents ! ” 

Unhappily, that was impossible. After a moment, the colonel begged Tran- 
quil to continue his story. The hunter then told him in what way he kad 
managed to cross the enemy’s lines. This bold action greatly struck the 
colonel. 

“ You were more fortunate than prudent,” he said, “ in thus venturing into the 
midst of your enemies.” 

The hunter smiled good-temperedly. 

** I was almost certain of succeeding,” he said. 

“How so?” 

** I have had a long experience of Indian habits, which enables me to make 
nearl)r certain with them.” 

“ Grantei ; but in this case you had not Indians to deal with.” 

“ Pardon me, colonel.” 

“ I do not understand you, so be kind enough to explain.” 

“ That is an easy matter. Blue-fox entered the Texan camp this evening, at 
the head of two hundred warriors.” 

“ I was not aware of it,” the colonel said. 

“ The Jaguar, to do honour to his terrible allies, confided to them the camp- 
guard for this night.” 

“Hence?” 

“ Hence, colonel, all the Texans are sleeping soundly at this moment, while 
the Apaches are watching, or, at least, ought to be watching.” 

“ What do you mean by ought to be watching ? ” 

“ I mean that the red-skins do not at all understand our manner of carrying on 
war, are not accustomed to sentinel duty, and so everybody is asleep in the 
camp.” 

“ Ah ! ” said the colonel, as he resumed, with a thoughtful air, his pro- 
menade. 

The latter waited, taking an interrogative glance at Don Felix, who had 
remained in the room till it pleased the commandant to dismiss him. A few 
minutes passed, and not a syllable was exchanged ; Don Juan seemed to be 
plunged in serious thought. All at once he stopped before the hunter, and 
looked him full in the face. 

“ I have known you for a long time by reputation,” he said. “ You pass for 
a man who can be trusted.” 

The Canadian bowed, not understanding to what these preliminaries tended. 

“ I think you said the enemy’s camp was plunged in steep ? ” the colonel con- 
tinued. 

* That is my conviction,” Tranquil answered; “we crossed their lines too 
easily for it to be otherwise.” 

D 


66 


The Freebooters. 


Don Felix drew nearer. 

Yes,” the young officer muttered, “ we might give them a lesson.'* 

*• A lesson they greatly need,” the major-domo added. 

“ Ah, ah 1 ” the colonel said, with a smile j “ then you understand me, Don 
Felix ? ” 

“ Most undoubtedly.” 

It is one in the morning,” the colonel went on, as he looked at a clock 
standing on a console ; " at this moment sleep is the deepest. Well, we will 
attempt a sortie'; have the officers of the garrison aroused.” 

The major-domo went out : five minutes later, the officers, still half-asleep, 
obeyed their chiefs orders. 

Caballeros,” the latter said to them, so soon as he saw them all collected 
round him, “ I have resolved to make a sortie against the rebels, surprise them, 
and fire their camp, if it be possible. Select from your soldiers one hundred 
and fifty men in whom you can trust ; supply them with inflammable matters, 
and in five minutes let them be drawn up in the patio.” 

The officers bowed, and at once left the room. The colonel then turned to 
Tranquil. 

“ Are you tired ? ” 

“ I am never so.” 

“Very good. You will serve as our guide; unfortunately, I want two 
others. 

“ I can procure them for your excellency.” 

“You?” 

“ Yes, a wood -ranger and a Comanche chief, who entered the fort with me, 
and for whom I answer with my head ; Loyal Heart and Black-deer.” 

“ Let all three wait for me in the patio.” 

Tranquil hastened to call his friends. 

“ If that hunter has spoken the truth, and I believe he has,” the colonel con- 
tinued, addressing the major-domo, “ I am convinced we shall have an excel- 
lent opportunity for repaying the rebels the harm they have done us. Do yoa 
accompany me^ Don Felix ? ” 

“ 1 would not for a fortune leave you one inch under such circumstances,” 


CHAPTER XIV. 


THE PROPOSAL. 

Oh the same night, almost at the same hour, the Jaguar, seated on a modest 
oak equipal in his tent, and with his elbow leaning on the table and his head on 
his hana, was reading, by the light of a candle that emitted but a dubious light, 
some important despatches. Absorbed in the perusal, the young commander or 
the insurgents paid no attention to the noises without, when suddenly a rather 
sharp puff of wind caused the flame of the candle to flicker, and the shadow of 
a man was darkly defined on the canvas of the tent. 

The young man, annoyed at being disturbed, raised his head angrily, and 
looked toward the entrance of the tent, with a frown that promised nothing very 
pleasant for his inopportune intruder. But at the sight ot the man who stood 
In the door-way, leaning on A long rifle, and fixing on him eyes that aparkkd 


The Proposal, 


^7 


like carbuncles, the Jaguar restrained with difficulty a cry of surprise, and made 
a move to seize the pistols placed within reach on the table. 

This man, whom we have already had occasion to present to the reader under 
very grave circumstances, had nothing in his appearance that spoke greatly in 
his favour. His stern glance, his harsh face, his long white beard, his tall 
stature and strange attire, all about him inspired repulsion and almost terror. 
The Jaguar’s movement produced a sinister smile on his pale lips. 

“ Why take up your weapons ? ” he said, in a hoarse voice ; “ had I intended 
to kill you, you would have been dead long ago.” 

The young man wheeled round his equipal, which brought him face to face 
with the stranger. The two men examined each other for a moment with the 
most minute attention. 

“ Have you looked at me enough ? ” the stranger at length asked. 

“ Yes,” the Jaguar answered j “ now tell me who you are, what brings you 
here, and how you entered ? ” 

“ Those are a good many questions at once, still I will try to answer them. 
Who am I ? No one knows, and there are moments when I am myself igno- 
rant ; I am an accursed, and a reprobate, prowling about the desert like a wild 
beast in search of prey ; the red-skins, whose implacable enemy I am, and in 
whom I inspire a superstitious terror, call me the Kiein Stoman , is this in- 
formation sufficient for you P ” 

“ What P ” the young man exclaimed ; “ the White Scalper I ” 

“ I am the man,” the stranger quietly answered j “lam also known at times 
by the name of the Pitiless.” 

The Jaguar gave a start of repulsion at the sight of this sinister man, whose 
mournful reputation had reached him with all its horrors. His memory imme- 
diately recalled all the traits of ferocity and cruelty imputed to this man, 
and it was under the impression of this recollection that he said to him, with an 
accent of disgust he did not wish to conceal— 

“ What is there in common between you and me P ” 

The old man smiled sarcastically. 

“ God,” he answered, “ connects all men to each other by invisible bonds 
which render them responsible one for the other ; He willed it so, in His supreme 
omniscience, in order to render society possible.” 

On hearing this wild, solitary man utter so strange an argument, the Jaguar 
felt his surprise redoubled. 

“ I will not discuss the point with you,” he said ; “ every one in life follows the 
path destiny has traced for him, and it does not belong to me to judge you 
either favourably or unfavourably ; still I have the right of denying any con4 
nection with you, whatever may be your feelings toward me, or the motives that 
brought you hither ; up to the present we have been strangers to each other, 
and I desire to remain so for the future.” 

. “ What do you know of it P What certainty have you that this is the first 
time we have been face to face ? Man can no more answer for the past than 
for the future ; each is in the hands of One more powerful than him, for whom 
there is only one weight and one measure.” 

“ I am astonished,’’ the Jaguar answered, ** that the name of Deity should be 
fto often on your lips.” 

“ Because it is deeply engraved on my heart,” the old man said, with an 
accent of gloomy sorrow. “You said yourself that you would not judge me ; 
retain, if you will, the evil impression which the probable false statements of 
others have made on you. I care little for the opinion of men \ I recognise no 
judge of my actions but my conscience.” 


68 


The Freebooters, 


" Be it so ; but permit me to. remark that time is rapidly slipping away, night 
5s advancing. I have serious business to attend to, and need to be alone.” 

“ In a word, you show me the door ; unluckily I am not disposed for the pre- 
sent to accede to your request, or, if you prefer it, obey your orders ; I wish first 
to answer all your questions, and then, if you still insist on it, I will retire.” 

“ Take care, for this obstinacy on your part may lead to dangerous conse- 
quences for you.” 

“ Why threaten a man who does not insult you ? ” the old man replied. *• Do 
you fancy that I put myself out of the way for nothing? No, no, serious 
motives bring me here ; and if I am not mistaken, ere long you will allow that 
the time you are unwilling to grant me could not be better employed. 

“ Speak then,” said the Jaguar a moment after, in the tone of a man who 
resigns himself to endure a thing that displeases him, but which he cannot 
elude; “but pray be brief.” 

“ I am not so used to speaking as to find pleasure in making long harangues," 
the Scalper replied ; “ I will only say things strictly indispensable.” 

“ Do so, then, without further preamble." 

Be it so. I now return to the third question — How I got here?” 

“ In truth,” the Jaguar exclaimed, “that seems to me extraordinary.” 

“ Not so extraordinary as you suppose; I might tell you that I am too old a 
hand on the prairies not to foil the most vigilant sentries; but I prefer confessing 
the truth, as it will be more profitable to you. You have this night confided the 
guard of the camp to Apache dogs, who, instead of watching, as they pledged 
themselves to do, are asleep on their posts, so thoroughly that the first comer 
can enter your lines as he thinks proper; and this is so true, that scarce two 
hours back a party of eight went through the whole length of your camp, and 
entered the hacienda, without encountering opposition.” 

“ Viva Dios!” the Jaguar exclaimed, turning livid with passion; “can it pos- 
sibly be so?” 

“ I am the proof of it, I fancy,” the old man answered. 

The young chief seized his pistols and made a movement to rush out, but the 
atranger restrained him. 

“ What good will it do,” he said, “to pick a quarrel with your allies? Still, 
let it serve you as a lesson to take better precautions another time.” 

“ But these men who crossed the camp?” the Jaguar said sharply. 

“ You have nothing to fear from them; they are poor devils of hunters, who 
were probably seeking a refuge for the two women they brought with them.” 

“ Two women ? ” 

“ Yes, a white and an Indian; although they were dresed in male attire, I re- 
cognised them easily.” 

“Ah,” said the Jaguar thoughtfully, “do you know any of these hunters?” 

“ Only one, who is, I believe, tigrero to the hacienda.” 

“ Tranquil ! ” the Jaguar exclaimed. 

“ Yes.” 

“In that case, one of the females is his daughter Carmela/' 

“ Probably.” 

“ S*he is now, then, at the Larch-tree?” 

“ Yes.” 

“ Oh,” he burst out, “ I must at all hazards carry that accursed hacienda," 

“ That is exactly what I came to propose to you,” the Scalper said quietly. 

“ What do you say?” asked the young man. 

I say,” the old man replied, “that I have come to propose to you the capture 
of the hacienda.” 


The Proposal, 


\ 


Cp 


“ Because it is impossible,” the Jaguar went on with agitation ; “the hacienda 
is well fortified : it is defended by a numerous and brave garrison, commanded 
by one of the best officers of the Mexican army, and for the seventeen days I 
have been investing these accursed walls, I have been unable, despite all my 
efforts, to take one forward step.” 

“ I repeat my proposition.” 

“ But how will you effect it?” 

“ When force does not avail, stratagem must be employed. 1 will introduce 
you into the interior — the rest is your affair,” 

“ Oh, once inside, I will not leave it again.” 

“Then you accept?” 

“ But explain. It is not admissible that you have come to make such a pro- 
posal for my sake, or that of the cause I serve.” 

“ Perhaps not.” 

“ Let us deal frankly. Whatever your character may be, you have a manner 
of looking at things which renders you perfectly indifferent to the chances, good 
or bad, of the struggle going on at this moment in this unhappy country,” 

“ You are quite correct.” 

“ Am I not? You care little whether Texas be free or in slavery?” 

“ I admit it.” 

“ You have, then, a reason for acting as you are now doing?” 

“ A man always has a reason.” 

“Very good; well, I wish to know that reason.” 

“ And suppose I refuse to tell it you?” 

“ I shall not accept your proposition.” 

“ You are a suspicious and headstrong boy,” the old man said, “who, through 
a false feeling of honour, risk losing an opportunity which you will probably 
never find again.” 

“ I will run the risk; I wish to be frank with you; I only know you from very 
ill reports; your reputation is execrable, and nothing proves to me that, under 
the pretext of serving me, you may not be laying a snare.” 

The old man’s pale face was covered by a sudden flush at these words, a 
nervous tremor agitated all his limbs; but, by a violent effort, he succeeded in 
mastering his emotion, and after a few minutes, he replied in a calm voice, in 
which, however, there remained some traces of the tempest that growled 
hoarsely in his heart — 

“ I forgive you,” he said; “you had a right to speak to me as you did, and I 
should not be angry. Time is slipping away, it is nearly one in the morning; it 
will soon be too late to execute the bold plan I have formed; I will, therefore, 
only add one word — reflect before answering me, for on that answer my resolu- 
tion depends. The motive that urges me to offer to introduce you to the 
hacienda is personal, and in no way affects or concerns you.” 

“ But what guarantee can you offer me of the sincerity of your intentions?’’ 

The old man stepped forward, drew himself up to his full height, and said — 

“ My word, the word of a man who, whatever may be said about him, has 
never failed in what he owes himself; I swear to you on my honour, before that 
God in whose presence you and I will probably soon appear, that my intention^ 
are pure and loyal. Now, answer, what is your resolve?” 

While uttering these words, the old man’s attitude, gestures, and face, were 
imprinted with such nobility and grandeur, that he seemed transfigured. In 
spite of himself, the Jaguar was affected: he felt himself led away by this accent, 
which seemed to come straight from the heart. 

“ I accept,” he said in a firm voice. 


Tne Freebooters, 




I expected it,” the old man replied; “ in young and generous natures good 
feelings always find an echo.” 

“ Here is my hand/’ the young man said ^'assionately ; “ press it without fear, 
for it is that of a friend.” 

“ Thanks,” the old man said, as a burning tear beaded on his eyelashes; “that 
v/ord repays me for much suffering and sorrow.” 

“ Now, explain your plan to me.” 

“ I will do so in two words; but, ere we discuss the plan we shall adopt, col- 
lect noiselessly three or four hundred men, so that we may be able to start 
immediately we have come to an understanding.” 

“ You are right.” 

“ I need not advise you to be prudent; your men must assemble in absolute 
silence. Take no red-skins with you, for they would be more injurious than 
useful.” 

“ I will act as you wish.” 

The Jaguar went out, and remained away for about a quarter of an hour; 
during that time the White Scalper remained motionless in the centre of the 
tent, leaning pensively on his rifle-barrel, the butt of which rested on the ground. 
Soon could be heard outside something like the imperceptible buzzing of bees in 
a hive. It was the camp awakening. The Jaguar came in again. 

“ The order is given,” he said. “ In a quarter of an hour four hundred men 
will be under arms.” 

“ That is a longer period than I need for what I have to say ; my plan is 
most simple, and if you follow it point for point we shall enter the hacienda 
without striking a blow ; listen to me attentively.” 

“ Speak.” 

“ For very many years I have known the Larch-tree hacienda. Owing to 
events too long to tell you, I was resident in it for nearly a year as major-domo. 
At that period the father of the present owner was still living, and for sundry 
reasons had the greatest confidence in me. You are aware that at the period 
of the conquest, when the Spaniards built these haciendas, they made them 
fortresses rather than farm-houses. Now, you must know that in every such 
fortress there is a masked gate, a secret sallyport, which, if necessary, the 
garrison employ, either to receive reinforcements or provisions, or to evacuate 
the place, should it be too closely invested.” 

“ Oh,” the Jaguar said, smiting his forehead, “can the hacienda have one of 
these sallyports ? ” 

“ Patience, let me go on.” 

“ But look,” the young man objected, “ here is the detailed plan of the Larch- 
tree, made by a man whose family have lived there for three generations, from 
father to son, and there is nothing of the sort marked on it.” 

“ Because,” replied the old man, “ the secret is generally known to the owner 
of the hacienda alone. These sallyports, so useful at the time of the conquest, 
became neglected, owing to the long peace that reigned in the country ; then, by 
degrees, as they served no purpose, the recollection of them was lost, and I am 
convinced that the majority of the hacienderos at the present day are ignorant 
of the existence of these secret gates in their habitation ; the owner of the 
Larch-tree is one of the number.” 

“ How do you know ? perhaps the gate is blocked up^ or at least defended by 
a strong detachment.” 

“ No,” said the old man, “ the gate is not stopped up, nor is it guarded.” 

“ Are you certain ? ” 

“ Did I not tell you that I have been prowling about the neighbourhccd for 


The Proposal, 


71 


some days ? I wished to assure myself of the existence of this gate, which an 
accident led me to discover in former days. I have sought it, found it, and 
opened it.” 

“ Viva Dios ! ” the Jaguar shouted joyfully, “ in that case the hacienda is ours.** 

“ I believe so, unless a fatality or a miracle occur.” 

But where is the gate situated ? ” 

“ As usual, at a spot where it is the most unlikely to suspect its existence, 
^^ook,” he added, bending over the plan, “ the hacienda, being built on a height, 
funs a risk in the event of a long siege of seeing its wells dry up — does it not ? ” 

“ Yes.” 

“ Very good. The river on this side runs along the foot of the rocks on 
which its walls are built.” 

Yes^ yes,” said the young man. 

“ Judging rightly,” he went on, “ that on this side the hacienda was impreg. 
nable, you contented yourself with establishing on the river-bank a few outposts, 
intended to watch the enemy’s movements.” 

“ Any flight on that side is impossible — in the first place, owing to the height 
of the walls ; and next, through the river, which forms a natural trench.” 

“ Well, the gate by which we shall enter is among those very rocks, almost 
on a level with the water ; it opens into a natural grotto, the entrance of which 
is so obstructed by creepers, that from the opposite bank it is impossible to 
suspect its existence.’* 

“ At length,” the Jaguar exclaimed, “this redoubt, which has hitherto been 
one of the links of the heavy chain riveted round Texas, will be to-morrow one 
of the most solid barriers of her independence ! ” 

“ I hope to see you master of the place before sunrise.” 

With which words they left the tent. According to the Jaguar’s orders, John 
Davis had roused four hundred men, chosen from the boldest and most skilful 
fellows of the force. They were drawn up a few paces from the tent, motionless 
and silent. Their rifles, whose barrels were bronzed lest they might emit any 
denunciatory gleams in the moonbeams, were piled in front of them. 

The officers formed a group apart. They were conversing together in a low 
voice, with considerable animation, not at all understanding the orders they had 
received, and not knowing for what reason the chief had them awakened. 
The Jaguar advanced toward them, and the officers fell back. The young man 
followed by the Scalper, entered the circle, which at once dosed up again 
John Davis, on perceiving the old man, uttered a stifled cry of surprise. 

“Caballeros,” the Jaguar said, in a low voice, “we are about to attempt a 
surprise, which, if it succeed, will render us masters of the hacienda almost 
without a blow.” 

A murmur of surprise ran round the circle. 

“ A person in whom I have the most entire confidence,” the Jaguar continued, 
“ has revealed to me the existence of a secret gate, not known to the garrison, 
which will give us access to the fort. Each of you will now take the command 
of his men. Our march must be as silent as that of Indian warriors on the 
war-path. You have understood me fully, so I count on your aid. In the 
event of separation, the watchword will be Texas and liberty. To your posts.” 

The circle was broken up, and each officer placed himself at the head of his men. 

“ One word,” said John Davis, bending to his ear to speak. “ Do you know 
who that man is, standing close to you?” 

“ It is the White Scalper.” 

“ Was it he who revealed to you the existence of the sally-port by which wd 
are 10 enter?” 


7a 


The Freebooters. 


“Yes; and I fully trust him.** 

“ Well, you may be right,” John replied ; “ but for all that. I will watch 
him.” 

“ As you please.” 

“Well, let us be off.” 

The American followed his chief, casting a parting look of suspicion on the 
old man. The latter did not seem to trouble himself at all about this aside. 
Apparently indifferent to what went on around him, he waited, quietly leaning 
on his rifle, till it pleased the Jaguar to give the command for departure. Al 
length, the word “ march ” ran from rank to rank, and the column started. 

These men, the majority of whom were accustomed to long marches in the 
desert, placed their feet so softly on the ground, that they seemed to glide along 
like phantoms, so silent was their march. At this moment, as if the sky wished 
to be on their side, an immense black cloud spread across the heavens and 
interrupted the moonbeams, substituting, almost without transition, a deep 
obscurity for the radiance that previously prevailed, and the column di.sappeared 
in the gloom. A few paces ahead of the main body, the Jaguar, White Scalper, 
And John Davis marched side by side. 

“ Bravo ! ” the young man muttered ; “ everything favours us.” 

“ I*et us wait for the end,” the American growled. 

Instead of leaving the camp on the side of the hacienda, whose gloomy out. 
line was designed, sinister and menacing, on the top of the hill, the Scalper 
made a long circuit, which skirted the rear of the camp. The deepest silence 
prevailed on the plain, the camp and hacienda seemed asleep, not a light 
gleamed in the darkness, and it might be fancied, on noticing so profound a 
calm, that the plain was deserted. 

These men, who walked on tip-toe, sounding the darkness around them, and 
with their finger placed on the rifle-trigger, felt their hearts beat with impatience. 
It was a singular coincidence, a strange fatality, which caused the besiegers and 
besieged to attempt a double surprise at the same hour, almost at the same 
moment, and send blindly against each other men who on either side advanced 
with the hope of certain success, and convinced that they were about to surprise 
asleep the too confident enemy whom they burned to massacre. 

So soon as they had left the camp, the insurgents drew near the river, whose 
banks, covered with thick bushes and aquatic plants, would have offered them, 
even in bright day, a certain shelter from the Mexicans. On coming within 
about half a league of the intrenchments, the column halted; the Scalper 
advanced alone a few yards, and then rejoined the Jaguar. 

“ We shall have to cross the river here,” he said, “ where there is a ford.” 

And, giving the example, the old man stepped into the bed of the river. The 
others followed immediately. They passed threes in front, and closing up the 
ranks, so as to resist the rather strong current, which, without these precautions, 
might have carried them away. Five minutes later, the whole band was col- 
lected in the interior of the grotto, at the end of which was the secret door. 

“ The moment has arrived,” the Jaguar then said, “ to redouble our prudence; 
let us avoid, if it be possible, bloodshed. Not a word must be uttered, or a shot 
fired, without my orders, under penalty of death.” Then, turning to the White 
Scalper, he said, in a firm voice, “ Now, open the door!” 

There was a moment of supreme anxiety for the insurgents, who awaited with 
a quiver of impatience the downfall of the frail obstacle that separated the® 
from their enemies. 


CHAPTER XV. 


A THUNDERBOLT. 

Thf colonel and the major-domo meanwhile went down to the patio, wher^ 
they found assembled the one hundred and fifty men selected for the execution 
of the surprise. Tranquil, according to the orders he had received, after assur- 
ing himself that Carmela was enjoying a sound and refreshing sleep, hastened 
to tell Loyal Heart and Black-deer what the colonel expected from them. The 
two men immediately followed their friend into the patio. 

The colonel divided his men into three detachments, each of fifty men : he 
took the command of the first, keeping the Canadian with him ; Don Felix, 
having Loyal Heart for guide, had the command of the second ; and the third, 
at the head of which was placed a captain, an old soldier of great experience, 
was directed by Black-deer. These arrangements made, the colonel gave the 
order for departure. 

The colonel’s plan was extremely simple : descend unheard to the rebels* 
camp, enter it, and fire it on three different sides; then, profiting by the 
disorder and tumult occasioned by this surprise, rush on the rebels with shouts 
of “ Viva Mejico !” prevent them rallying or extinguishing the fire, massacre as 
many as possible, and afterwards effect an orderly retreat on the hacienda. 

At the moment when the Mexicans left the hacienda, the same thing 
happened to them as to the insurgents, who left their camp at the same 
moment, that is to say, they were suddenly enveloped in thick darkness. 

“ This is a good omen for the success of our expedition,” said the colonel. 

The Jaguar was saying the same thing to White Scalper almost simul- 
taneously. 

The three detachments descended the hill, marching in Indian file, and taking 
the greatest care to stifle the sound of their footsteps on the ground. On 
coming within a certain distance of the Texan intrenchments, they halted, with 
one accord, to take breath, like tigers which, at the moment of leaping on the 
prey they covet, draw themselves up, in order to take a vigorous impetus. The 
soldiers wheeled, so as to present a rather extensive line ; then each lay down 
on the sand, and at the signal, muttered in a low voice by the guides, they 
began crawling like reptiles through the tall grass, cutting passages through the 
bushes, advancing in a straight line, and clearing obstacles, without thinking of 
turning them. 

We have said that White Scalper had objected to the Apache sentries being 
aroused, for he considered their vigilance quite unnecessary — notsupposingfor a 
moment that the Mexicans would dare to leave their lines of defence and take 
the initiative in a sally. The direction the old man had given to the detach- 
ment he guided, by drawing it away from the approaches of the fortress, had 
also favoured the colonel’s plans, which, without that, would have been, in all 
probability, foiled. 

Still the Canadian hunter was too prudent and accustomed to the tricks of 
Indian war not to assure himself previously that there were no traps to appre? 
hend. Hence, on arriving about fifteen yards from the breastworks, he ordered 
a halt. Then, gliding like a serpent through the shrubs and dead trees that 
covered the ground at this spot, he pushed forward a reconnoissance. Loyal 


74 


Tne Freel'ooterSo 


Heart and Black-deer, to whom he had given detailed instructions how to act 
before leaving the hacienda, executed the same manoeuvre. The absence of the 
scouts was long, or at least appeared so to all these men, who were so impatient 
to bound on the enemy and begin the attack. At length Traniiuil returned, 
but he was anxious and frowning, and a gloomy restlessness seemed to agitate 
him. 

“ What is the matter with you?” the colonel asked him. “Are the rebels 
alarmed ? Have you noticed any signs of agitatioYi in their camp ? ” 

“ No,” he replied, with his eyes obstinately fixed before him ; “ J have 
sc!en nothing, noticed nothing ; the deepest calm, apparently, prevails in the 
camp.” 

Apparently, do you say ? ” 

“ Yes ; for it is impossible that this calm can be real, for most of the Texan 
insurgents are old hunters, accustomed to the rude fatigues of a desert life. I 
can just understand that, during the first part of the night, they might not 
notice the gross neglect of the Apache sentries ; but what I cannot in any way 
admit is, that during the whole night not one of these partizans, to whom 
prudence is so imperiously recommended, should have got up to make the 
rounds and see that all was in order. 

“ And you conclude from this ? ” 

“ I conclude that we should return at full speed to the hacienda ; for, unless I 
am greatly mistaken, this gloomy night covers some sinister mystery which we 
shall see accomplished ere long, and of which we may fall the victims, unless 
we take care.” 

“ From what you say to me,” the colonel made answer, “ I see that you 
rather give me the expression of your own personal opinions than the result of 
facts.” 

“ That is true, colonel ; but if you will permit me to say so, I would observe 
that these opinions emanate from a man for whom the desert possesses no 
secrets, and whom his presentiments rarely deceive.” 

“ Yes ; all that is true ; and perhaps I ought to follow your advice. My 
resolution has possibly been premature, but now, unfortunately, it is too late to 
recall it. Withdrawing is an impossibility, for that would prove to my soldiers 
that I was mistaken, which is not admissible. We must, at any cost, accept 
the consequences of our inprudence, and push on, no matter what happens. 

“ I am at your orders, colonel.” 

“ Forward, then, and may heaven be favourable to us ! ” the young officer 
said, resolutely. 

The order was whispered along the line, and the soldiers, whom this long 
conference had perplexed, and who were afraid they should be obliged to turn 
back, received it joyfully, and advanced with renewed ardour. The ground that 
separated them from the breastwork was soon covered, and the intrenchments 
were escaled ere a single Apache sentry had given the alarm. 

Suddenly, from three different points of the camp an immense flame shot up, 
and the Mexicans rushed forward, shouting Viva Mrjico!” The insurgents, 
hardly awake, ran hither and thither, not understanding these flames which 
surrounded them, and these terrible yells which sounded in their ears like a 
funeral knell. 

For nearly an hour the contest was a chaos ; smoke and noise covered every- 
thing else. According to the American custom, most of the insurgents had 
their wives and children with them ; hence, from the first moment the enclosure 
was covered with a confused medley of women. Apache horsemen galloped 
among the terrified foot soldiers and overthrown tents, from which rose the 


4 Thunderholt. 


7S 


groans of the wounded. All around the camp an immense line of smoke 
bordered the flames kindled by the Mexicans, who bounded like wild beasts, 
uttering fearful yells. 

Still, when the first feeling of surprise had passed, the insurgents began 
gradually rallying, in spite of the incessant efforts of the Mexicans, and resist- 
ance was organised to a certain extent. Colonel Melendez had gained his 
object, the success of his plan was complete, the losses of the Texans in men and 
ammunition were immense ; he did not wish, with the few troops he had undei 
him, to advance further into a blazing camp, where they walked under a vaull 
of flames, running the risk of being struck at each moment by the ruins of the 
powder magazines, which exploded one after the other with a terrible noise. 

The colonel triumphantly glanced at the ruins piled up around him, and then 
ordered the retreat to be sounded. 

The three detachments formed in a semi-circle, firing on the insurgents, whc 
profited by the moment of respite chance afforded them to become constantly 
more numerous. They then noticed the small strength of their assailants, and 
rushed resolutely upon them. The Mexicans, now united, wished to effect their 
retreat, but at each instant their position became more difficult, and threatened 
to become even critical. 

Colonel Melendez, seeing the danger of the position, collected forty resolute 
men, and placing himself at their head, rushed on the insurgents with an 
irresistible impetuosity. The latter, surprised in their turn by this vigorous 
attack, which they were far from expecting, recoiled, and at length fell back 
some hundred yards to re-form, closely pursued by the colonel. 

This lucky di version gave the main body of the Mexicans time to gain ground, 
and when the Texans returned to the charge with fresh ardour, the propitious 
moment had passed. 

“ Viva Dios!" the colonel said; “the affair was hot, but the advantage 
remains with us.” 

“ I did not see the Jaguar during the whole action,” the Canadian muttered. 

“ That is true,” the young man replied, “ and is most strange.” 

“ His absence alarms me,” the hunter said sadly. 

“ Where can he be ? ” the colonel remarked, suddenly turning thoughtful. 

“ Perhaps we shall learn only too soon,” the Canadian replied with a shake of 
the head foreboding misfortune. 

All at once, and as if chance had wished to justify the hunter’s sad fore- 
bodings, an immense noise was heard in the hacienda, amid which could be 
distinguished cries of distress, and a well-sustained musketry fire. Then, a 
sinister glare rose above the Larch-tree, which it coloured with the hues of fire. 

“Forward! forward 1 ” the colonel cried; “the enemy have got into the 
fort 1 ” 

At the first glance, the young officer understood what had taken place, and 
the truth at once struck his mind. All rushed toward the hacienda, inside which 
an obstinate contest seemed to be raging. They soon reached the gates, and 
rushed into the patio, where a horrible spectacle offered itself to their sight. 
This is what had happened. 

At the moment when White Scalper prepared to break in the door, tlu 
clamour made by the Mexicans in firing the camp reached the ears of the 
Texans. 

“ Rayo de Dios I ” the Jaguar shouted ; “ what is the meaning of that ? ” 

“ Probably the Mexicans are attacking your camp,” the old man quietly 
answered. 

The young chief gave him an ugly look. 


Tne preevooters, 


76 


We are betrayed,” said John Davis, as he cocked a pistol, and pointed it at 
the old man. 

“ I am beginning to believe it,” the Jaguar muttered. 

By whom ? ” the White Scalper asked with a smile of contempt. 

“ By you, you villain ! ” the American answered. 

“You are mad,” the old man said with a disdainful shrug; “ if I had been 
false, should I have led you here ? ” 

“ That is true,” said the Jaguar ; “ but it is strange, and the noise is unceasing. 
The Mexicans are doubtless massacring our companions ; we must hurry to 
their assistance.” 

“ Do nothing of the sort,” the Scalper sharply exclaimed. “ Hasten inside the 
fortress, which I doubt not is abandoned by the greater part of its defenders ; 
your companions, so soon as they have rallied, will be strong enough to repulse 
their assailants.” 

“ What is to be done?” muttered the Jaguar, with an undecided air, as he 
bent an inquiring glance on the men as they pressed round him. 

“ Act without loss of a moment,” the old man eagerly exclaimed, and with a 
vigorously-dealt stroke he broke in the door, which fell in splinters to the 
ground ; “ here is the way open, will you recoil ?” 

“ No ! no 1 ” they shouted impetuously, and rushed into the gaping vault 
before them. 

This vault formed a passage wide enough for four persons to march abreast, 
and of sufficient height for them not to be obliged to stoop ; it rose with a 
gentle incline, and resembled a species of labyrinth, owing to the constant turns 
it took. The darkness was complete, but the impulse had been given, and no 
other noise was audible save that of the panting breathing of these men, and 
their hurried footsteps, which sounded hollow on the damp ground they trod. 
After twenty minutes’ march, which seemed to last an age, the Scalper’s voice 
rose in the gloom, and uttered the single word, “ Halt ! ” 

“ Here we shall have to make our final arrangements,” he continued ; “ but in 
the first place let me procure you a light, so that you may know exactly where 
you are.” 

The old man, who seemed gifted with the privilege of seeing in the dark, 
walked about for some minutes in various directions, doubtless collecting the 
ingredients necessary for the fire he wished to kindle ; then he struck a light, 
lit a piece of tinder, and almost immediately a brilliant flame seemed to leap 
forth from the ground, and illumined objects sufficiently for them to be distin- 
guished. The Scalper had simply lighted a fire of dry wood, probably prepared 
beforehand. 

The Texans looked curiously around. They found themselves In a very large, 
almost circular vault, somewhat resembling a crypt ; the walls were lofty, and 
the roof was rounded in the shape of a dome. The ground was composed of a 
very fine dry sand, as yellow as gold. This room seemed cut out of the 
rock. 

In the background, a staircase of some twenty steps, wide, and without 
bannister, mounted to the roof, where it terminated, and it was impossible to 
distinguish whether there were any trap-door or opening. This trap doubtless 
existed, but time had covered its openings with dust. After attentively exa- 
mining the vault by the aid of a blazing log, the Jaguar returned to the old 
man, who had remained by the fire. 

“ Where are we ?” he asked him. 

“ We are,” he said, “ exactly under the patio of the hacienda ; this 
ends in an opening I will point out to you, and which leads into a Ion 


A Thiinderloli, 


77 


corral, in which, if I am not mistaken, the wood stores of the hacienda are no\f 
kept.” 

“ Good,” the Jaguar answered ; “ but before venturing into what may be an 
adroiliy-laid trap, I should like, myself, to visit the corral of which you speak, 
in order to see with my own eyes.” 

“ I ask nothing better than to lead you to it.” 

Thank you ; but I do not see exactly how we shall manage to open the 
passage of which you speak, without making a noise, which will immediately 
bring down on us the whole of the garrison, of which I am excessively afraid, as 
we are not at all conveniently situated for fighting.” 

That need not trouble you ; I pledge myself to open the trap without 
making the slightest noise.” 

“ That is better ; but come, time presses.” 

“ That is true. Come.” 

The two men then proceeded to the flight of stairs. On reaching the top, 
the White Scalper thrust his head against the ceiling, and after several attempts 
a slab slowly rose, turned over, and fell noiselessly on its side, leaving a 
passage large enough for two men to pass together. White Scalper passed 
through this opening. With one bound the Jaguar stood by his side, pistol in 
hand, ready to blow out his brains at the first suspicious movement. But he 
soon perceived that the old man had no intention of betraying him, and, 
ashamed at the suspicion he had evinced, he hid his weapon. 

As the Scalper had stated, they found themselves in an abandoned corral — a 
sort of vast stall, open to the sky, in which the Americans keep their horses ; 
but this one was quite empty. 

“ Good,” muttered the Jaguar, “you have kept your word ; thank you.” 

The Scalper did not seem to hear him ; his eyes were fixed on the door with 
a strange intensity, and his limbs trembled. Without attempting to discover 
the cause of his comrade’s extraordinary emotion, the Jaguar ran to the opening, 
over which he bent down. John Davis was standing on the top step. 

“ Well ?” he asked. 

“All goes well. Come up, but do not make any noise.” 

The four hundred Texans then rose one after the other from the vault. Each, 
as he came out of the trap, silently fell in. When all had entered the corral, 
the Jaguar returned the slab to its place. 

“ Our retreat,” he said, in a low voice, “ is now cut off ; we must either 
conquer or die.” 

The insurgents made no answer ; but their eyes flashed such fire, that the 
Jaguar comprehended that they would not give way an inch. It was a moment 
of terrible suspense while White Scalper was forcing the door. 

“ Forward ! ” the Jaguar shouted. 

All his comrades rushed after him with the irresistible force of a torrent that 
is bursting its dykes. 

Very different from the Texans, whose camp had so easily been invaded, the 
Mexicans were not asleep. By orders of the commandant, so soon as he had 
left the hacienda the whole garrison got under arms, and fell in in the patio, ready, 
if need was, to go immediately to the aid of the expeditionary corps. Still, 
they were so far from expecting an attack, especially in this manner, that the 
sudden apparition of this band of demons, who seemed to have ascended from 
the infernal regions, caused them extraordinary surprise and terror. 

The Texans, skilfully profiting by the terror their presence caused, redoubled 
their efforts to render it impossible for their enemies to offer any lengthened 
resistance. But, shut up as they were in a court without an outlet, the very 


The Freebooters, 


78 


impossibility of flight gave the Mexicans the necessary courage to rally an(J 
fight courageously. Collected round their officers, who encouraged them by 
voice and example, they resolved to do their duty manfully, and the combat 
began with terrible obstinacy. 

It was at this moment that Colonel Melendez and the soldiers who followed 
him burst into the patio, and by their presence were on the point of restoring 
to their party the victory which was slipping from them. Unfortunately, this 
success arrived too late : the Mexicans, surrounded by the Texans, were com- 
pelled, after a desperate resistance and prodigies of valour, to lay down their 
arms, and surrender at discretion. 

For the second time Don Juan Melendez was prisoner to the Jaguar. As on 
the first occasion, he was compelled to break his sword, conquered by fatality 
rather than by his fortunate enemy. 

The preliminaries of the surrender had scarce been agreed on between the 
two leaders ere piercing cries were suddenly heard from the building occupied 
by the women. Almost immediately the VVhite Scalper, who had been lost out 
of sight during the excitement of the combat, emerged from these buildings 
bearing across his shoulders a woman whose long hair trailed on the ground. 
The old man’s eyes flashed, and foam came from his mouth. In his right hand 
he brandished his rifle, which he held by the barrel, and fell back step by step, 
like a tiger at bay, before those who tried in vain to bar his passage. 

“ My daughter ! ” Tranquil shrieked. 

He had recognised Carmela ; the poor child had fainted, and seemed dead. 
The colonel and the Jaguar had also recognised the maiden, and by a common 
impulse hurried to her aid. 

The White Scalper, recoiling step by step before the cloud of enemies that 
surrounded him, did not reply a word to the insults poured upon him. He 
laughed a dry laugh, and whenever an assailant came too near him, raised his 
terrible club, and the man rolled to the ground. 

The hunters and the two young men, recognising the impossibility of striking 
this man without running the risk of wounding her they wished to save, con- 
tented themselves with gradually narrowing the circle round him, so as to drive 
him into a corner of the court, where they would be enabled to seize him. But 
the ferocious old man foiled their calculations ; he suddenly bounded forward, 
overthrew those who opposed his passage, and climbed with headlong speed up 
the steps leading to the platform. On reaching the latter, he turned once again 
to his startled enemies, burst into a hoarse laugh, and leaped over the breast- 
work into the river, bearing with him the young girl, of whom he had not 
loosed his hold. 

When the witnesses of this extraordinary act had recovered from the stupor 
into which it threw them, and rushed on the platform, their anxious glances in 
vain interrogated the river — the waters had resumed their ordinary limpidness. 
White Scalper had disappeared with the unhappy victim whom he had so 
audaciously carried off. To accomplish this unheard-of deed he had surrendered 
the Larch-tree hacienda to the Texan army. What motive had impelled the 
strange man to this extraordinary action ? 


CHAPTER XV! 


THE CONSPtHATORS. 

Wt^ win now momentarily quit the Indian border, on the skirt of which our story 
hcis hitherto passed, and leaping over about two hundred miles, beg the reader 
to follow us to Galveston, four months after the events we chronicled in our last 
chaptei. 

At the period when our story is laid, that city, in which General Lallemand 
wished to found the Champ (VAsylt — that sublime Utopia of a noble and broken 
Heart — was far from that commercial prosperity which the progress of civilisa- 
tion, successive immigrations, and, most of all, the speculations of bold 
capitalists, have caused it to attain during the last few years. 

Galveston is built on the small sandy islet of St. Louis, which closes up the 
mouth of the Rio Trinidad. At that time the houses were low, built of wood, 
and surrounded by gardens planted with fragrant trees, which impregnated the 
atmosphere with delicious odours. 

Unfortunately there is one thing that cannot alter — the climate and the nature 
of the soil. The suffocating heat that in summer prevails in the town corrodes the 
earth and changes it into an impalpable dust, in which you sink up to the knees, 
and which, at the least breath of air, penetrates into the eyes, mouth, and nostrils ; 
myriads of mosquitos, whose stings are extremely painful, and, above all, the 
bad quality of the water, which the inhabitants collect with great difficulty in 
plank reservoirs during the rainy season, and which the sun renders boiling — 
these grievous occurrences, especially for Europeans, render a residence at 
Galveston insupportable at times. 

About four in the afternoon, at the moment when the rising sea-breeze began 
to refiesh the atmosphere, a little Indian canoe, made of beech bark, left the 
mainland, and, vigorously impelled by two men supplied with wide sculls, pro- 
ceeded toward the city and pulled alongside the plank quay, which served at 
the time as the landing-place. So soon as the canoe was stationary, a third 
person, carelessly reclining in the stern sheets, rose, looked round him as if to 
recognise the spot where he was ; then, taking a spring, landed on the quay. 
The canoe immediately turned round, though not a syllable had been exchanged 
between the scullers and the passenger they had brought. 

The latter then pulled his hat over his eyes, wrapped himself carefully in the 
folds of a wide zarape of Indian fabric and striking colour, and proceeded 
hastily towards the centre of the city. After a walk of a few minutes the 
stranger stopped in front of a house, whose comfortable appearance and well- 
tended garden showed that it belonged to a person who, if not rich, was in easy 
circumstances. The door was ajar ; the stranger pushed it, entered, and closed 
it after him ; then, without any hesitation, like a man sure of what he was about, 
he crossed the garden, in which he met nobody, entered the passage of the 
house, turned to the right, and found himself in a room modestly though 
comfortably furnished. 

On reaching this room the stranger fell into a butacca with the air of a tired 
man delighted to rest after a long journey, took off his zarape, which he 
placed on the equipal, threw his hat upon it, and then, when he had made 
himself comfortable, he rolled a husk cigarette, struck a light with a gold 


So 


The Freelo iters. 


mcchero he took from his pocket, lit his papelito, and was soon surrounded 
by a dense cloud of bluish and fragrant smoke, which rose above his head and 
formed a species of halo. 

The stranger threw his body back, half closed his eyes, and fell into that 
gentle ecstasy which the Italians call the dolcejar the Turks, kief, and for 

which we northerns, with our more powerful constitutions, have found no name, 
for the simple reason that we do not know it. 

The stranger had reached about the half of his second cigarette when another 
person entered the room. This man, who did not appear to take the slightest 
notice of the previous arrival, behaved, hov/ever, precisely as he had done : he 
also took off his zarape, reclined on a butacca, and lit up a cigarette. Presently 
the garden sand creaked beneath the footsteps of a third visitor, followed 
immediately by a fourth, and then by a fifth : in short, at the end of an hour 
twenty persons were assembled in this room. They all smoked with apparent 
carelessness, and since their arrival had not exchanged a syllable. 

Six o’clock struck from a clock standing on a sideboard. The last stroke of 
the hour had scarce ceased vibrating ere the company, as if by common agree- 
ment, threw away their cigars, and rose with a vivacity that certainly was little 
to be expected after their previous carelessness. At the same moment a secret 
door opened in the wall, and a man appeared on the threshold. 

This man was tall, elegant, and aristocratic, and appeared to be young. A 
half-mask of velvet concealed the upper part of his face; as for his attire, it was 
exactly similar to that of the other persons in the room, but a brace of long 
pistols and a dagger were passed through the girdle of red China jrape which 
was wound tightly round his waist. At the appearance of the stranger a quiver 
ran, like an electric current, through the lines of visitors. The masked man, 
with head erect, arms crossed on his chest, and body haughtily thrown back, 
gave his audience a glance, which could be seen flashing through the holes in 
the velvet. 

“ It is well,” he at length said, in a sonorous voice ; “ you are faithful to your 
promise, not one of you has kept us waiting. This is the eighth time I have 
assembled you during the month, and each time I have found you equally 
prompt and faithful ; thanks, in the name of our country.” 

His auditors bowed silently, and the stranger continued, after a slight pause — 

“ Time presses, gentlemen ; the situation is growing with each moment more 
serious ; the hour has arrived to stake our heads resolutely in a glorious and 
decisive game. Are you ready ?” 

“ We are,” they all answered unanimously. 

“ Reflect once more before pledging yourself furthe*^,” the mask continued in 
a thrilling voice : “ this time I repeat to you, we shall take the bull by the horns, 
but of one hundred chances, ninety-eight are against us.” 

“ No matter,” the person who first entered the room said, haughtily ; “ if two 
chances are left us, they will be sufficient.” 

“ I expected no less from you, John Davis,” the stranger said ; “ you have ever 
been full of devotion and self-denial ; but, perhaps among our comrades some 
may not think as you do. I do not regard this as a crime, for a man may love 
his country and yet not consent to sacrifice his life to it without regret; still, I 
must have perfect confidence in those who follow me ; they and I must have 
but one heart and one thought. Let those, then, who feel a repugnance to share 
in the task we have to perform to-night withdraw.” 

There was silence, but no one stirred. 

“ Come,” the stranger said, with an expression of joy, “ I was not mistaken ; 
you are brave fellows.” 


The Cn7?spiratorf, 




“By heaven !” said John Davis, “ the trial was useless; you ought to havf 
known long ago what we are.” 

“ Certainly I knew it, but my honour commanded me to act as I have done. 
Now, all is said : we shall succeed or perish together. 

“ Very good, that is what I call speaking,” the ex-slave-dealer said, with a 
hearty laugh ; “ the partizans of Santa Anna must have to hold their own ; 
for, if I am not greatly mistaken, ere long we shall cut them into stirrup, 
leathers.” 

At thi^ moment a shrill whistle, although rather remote, was heard ; a second 
whistle, still nearer, replied. 

“ Gentlemen,” the stranger said, “ we are warned of the approach of an 
enemy ; and the interest of the cause we defend imperiously ordains prudencei 
Follow John Davis, while I receive the fellow who is intruding on us.” 

“ Come,” said the American. 

The conspirators, for they were no other, displayed some hesitation, for they 
felt a repugnance to hide. 

“ Leave me,” the stranger went on ; “you must.” 

All bowed and left the room after John Davis by the secret door, which had 
offered passage to their chief, and which closed upon them without displaying 
a sign of its existence, as it was so carefully hidden in the wall. A third whistle, 
close by, was heard at this moment. 

“ Yes, yes,” the chief said, with a smile, “ whoever you may be, you can come 
now ; if you possessed the craft of the opossum and the eyes of the eagle, I 
defy you to discover anything suspicious here.” 

He took off his mask, concealed his weapons, and lay back in a butacca. 
Almost immediately the doors opened, and a man appeared. It was Lanzi, tlie 
half-breed ; he was dressed like the sailors of the port, with canvas trousers 
drawn in round the hips, a white shirt, with a blue turned-down collar with a 
white edging, and a tarpaulin hat. 

“ Well,” the chief asked, without turning, “why did you warn us, Lanzi ?” 

“ The governor is coming hither with several officers and a company of 
soldiers.” 

“Hang it!” the conspirator said; “are we threatened with a domiciliary 
visit ? ” 

“ You will soon know, for I hear him.” 

“ Very good ; we shall see what they want of us. In the meantime take this 
mask and these weapons.” 

“ The weapons too ?” the other said in surprise. 

“ What shall I do with them ? That is not the way in which I must fight 
them at this moment. Be off.” 

The man took the mask and the pistols, pressed a spring, and disappeared. 
The gravel could now be heard creaking under the footsteps of several persons. 
At length the door of the saloon was thrown open, and the general entered, 
followed by four or five officers, who, like himself, were in full dress. The 
general stopped on the threshold, and took a piercing glance around ; the chief 
was standing motionless in the centre of the apartment. 

General Rubio was a thorough man of the world. He bowed politely, and 
apologised for having thus entered the house without being announced. 

“ These excuses are useless, caballero,” the young man answered ; “ the 
Mexican government has for a long time accustomed us to its unceremonious 
way of behaving.” 

“Your remarks, caballero,” the general answered, “ breathe an irritation that 
must be regretted. The state of effervescence in which Texas is at this 


82 


The Freebooters, 


moment would be more than sufficient to justify the unusual steps I am taking 
htiw you,” 

I know not to what you are pleased to allude, senor general,” the young 
man remarked, coldly; “it is possible that Texas may be in a state of e er- 
vescence, and the annoyances the government have put on it would completely 
justify this ; but as concerns myself, personally, I might perhaps have a right 
to complain of seeing my house invaded by an armed force.” 

“ Are you quite sure that I have not the right to act as I am doing ? Do 
you consider yourself so free from suspicion that you regard this measure as 
arbitrary ?” 

“ I repeat to you, caballero,” the young man continued, haughtily, “ that I do 
not at all understand the language you do me the honour of addressing to me. 
I am a peaceable citizen ; nothing in my conduct has, as far as I know, aroused 
the jealous solicitude of the government ; but you have force on your side, 
general, so do as you think proper ; I am alone here, and shall not attempt in 
any way to resist the measures you may think proper to take.” 

“ That language, caballero, evidently comes from a man assured of his safety.” 

“ It is that of a free man, unjustly insulted.” 

“ It may be so, but I shall not discuss the point. You will permit me, how- 
ever, to remark, that for a man so justly indignant, and apparently solitary, you 
are very carefully guarded ; for if the house be empty, as you state, the environs 
are guarded by friends of yours, who, I must allow, perform admirably the com- 
mission with which they were intrusted, by warning you sufficiently early of 
unexpected visits.” 

“ Instead of speaking in enigmas, general, it would be better, perhaps, to 
have an explanation ; then I might attempt to defend myself.” 

“ Nothing is more easy, caballero ; still, you will allow me to remark that we 
have been talking together for some time, and you have not yet offered me a 
chair.” 

“ Why should I employ toward you those conventional forms of politeness, 
general ? From the moment when, without my authority, and against my will, 
you introduced yourself into this house, you should have considered yourself as 
quite at home.” 

“ Caballero,” the general answered, “ I am grieved to find in you this stiffness 
and determination to quarrel. When I entered this house, my intentions with 
respect to you were, perhaps, not so hostile as you suppose ; but, since you force 
me to a clear and categorical explanation, I am prepared to satisfy you, and 
prove to you that I am acquainted not only with your conduct, but with the 
plans you entertain and are carrying out, with a tenacity and boldness which, if 
I did not take measures to stop them, would inevitably lead to their speedy 
realisation.” 

The young man started, and a flash burst from his wild eye at this insinu- 
ation, which revealed to him the danger with which he was menaced ; but im- 
mediately regaining his presence of mind, he replied, coolly — 

“ I am listening to you, general.” 

The latter turned to his officers. 

“ Do as I do, senores,” he said, as he sat down ; “ take seats, as this caballero 
refuses to offer them to us.” 

The officers bowed, and seated themselves comfortably on the butaccas with 
which the apartment was furnished. The general continued — 

“ And in the first place, to proceed regularly, and prove to you that I am 
well-informed of all that concerns you,” he said, purposely laying a stress on 
the words, “ I will begin by telling you your name.” 


The Conspirators, 


8 .? 


“ In truth, you should have begun with that.” 

* You are.'* the general went on, “ the chief whom the insurgents have 
christened the Jaguar.” 

“ Ah. ah ! ” he remarked, ironically, “ so you know that, senor governor? ” 
And a good many more things, as you shall see.” 

“ Go on,” he said, smiling. 

After giving a powerful organisation to your revolt on the Indian border 
by seizing the Larch-tree hacienda, and allying yourself v’ith certain Comanche 
and Apache tribes, you understood that, to succeed, you must give up that 
guerilla warfare, which I confess you had carried on for some time with con- 
sid^.rable success.” 

“ Thanks,” said the Jaguar, with an ironical bow. 

“ You therefore entrusted the temporary command of your bands to one of. 
your comrades, and yourself came into the heart of Texas, with your most 
faithful associates, in order to revolutionise the coast, and deal a great blow by 
seizing a seaport. Galveston, by its position, is a strategical point of the utmost 
importance for your plans. For two months past you have been concealed in 
this house, which you have made your head-quarters, and where you are making 
all the preparations for the audacious enterprise you wish to attempt. You 
have at your disposal numerous emissaries and faithful conspirators ; the 
government of the United States supply you with abundance of arms and 
ammunition, which you think you will soon have need of. Your measures have 
been so well taken, and your machinations carried on with such great skill ; you 
fancy yourself so nearly on the point of success, that hardly an hour back you 
convened here the principal members of your party, in order to give them their 
final instructions. Is it so ? Am I correctly informed ? ” 

“ What would you have me answer, caballero,” the young man said, “ since 
you know all ? ” 

“ Then, you confess that you are the Jaguar, the chief of the freebooters 1 ” 

“ Canarios, I should think so.” 

“You also allow that you came here with the intention of seizing the 
city ? ” 

“ Incontestably,” the other said, with an air of mockery ; “ it does not allow 
the shadow of a doubt.” 

“ Take care,” the general remarked drily; “ it is a much more serious matter 
than you seem to think.” 

“ What the deuce would you have me do, general ? it is not my fault that J 
am beginning to doubt my own identity, and I ask myself if I have not been 
hitherto deceived in believing myself Martin Gutierrez, the ranchero of Santa 
Aldegonida, in the state of Sonora, and if I am not, on the contrary, the 
ferocious Jaguar, of whom you speak to me, and for whom you do me the 
honour of taking me. I confess to you, general, that all this perplexes me in 
the highest degree.” 

“ Then, caballero, up to the present you have been jesting 1 ” the general 
said hastily. 

The Jaguar began laughing. 

“ Cuerpo de Cristo ! ” he replied, “ I should think so. What else could I 
do in the face of such accusations ? Discuss them with you ? You know as well 
as I do, general, that it is useless to attempt to overthrow a conviction. 
Instead of telling me that I am the Jaguar, prove it to me, and then I will bow 
te the truth.” 

“ I hope to be able to satisfy you.” 

“ Very good ; but till then, I would observe that you entered my house in a 


84 


The Freebooters. 


way contrary to law, that the domicile of a citizen is inviolable, and that what 
you have done to-day, only a juez de lettras, armed with a legal warrant, was 
empowered to do.” 

“ You would possibly be correct, caballero, if we lived in ordinary times; 
but the state is in a state of siege, the military power has taken the place of 
the civil authority, and alone has the right to command and have carried on*’ 
those measures that relate to the maintenance of order.” 

The young man, while the general was speaking, had taken a side glance at 
the clock. 

“Be kind enough,” he said, “to explain to me categorically, and without 
further circumlocution, the motives for your presence in my house ; we have 
been talking a long time, and I have not yet been able to read your intentions. 
I should therefore feel obliged by your making them known to me without 
delay, as important business claims my presence abroad.” 

“ Oh, oh ! you will soon change your tone,” the general said, with a little irony; 
“ I will tell you what you desire to learn ; as for your leaving the house without 
my sanction, I fancy you will find it rather difficult.” 

“ Which means, I presume, that you look upon me as a prisoner, general ? ’* 

“ Nearly so, caballero. When your house has been searched, I may, perhaps, 
permit you to be put aboard a ship, which will carry you far away from the 
territory of the Mexican confederation.” 

“ Canarws, senor general, I see that your government has preserved 
the healthy Spanish traditions, and is deliciously arbitrary,” the Jaguar said 
mockingly ; “ the only question is, whether I shall voluntarily submit to such 
treatment.” 

“You must have already perceived that force is not on your side, at least for 
the present.” 

“ Then you will employ force to coerce a single, unarmed man in his own 
house ? ” 

“ That is my intention.” 

“ Oh ! if that be so, I thank you, for you leave me free to act.” 

“ What do you mean by that remark, caballero ? ” 

“ What do you mean by yours, senor governor ? I consider that all means 
are good to escape arbitrary arrest, and I shall employ them without liesita- 
tion.” 

“ Try it,” the officer said, ironically. 

“ When the moment for action arrives, I shall not wait for your permission 
to do so,” the Jaguar replied. 

The tone in which the Jaguar uttered his last words caused the general a 
moment’s anxiety ; but after taking a glance round him, he was reassured. In 
fact, owing to the precautions taken by the old soldier, it seemed materially 
impossible that his prisoner could escape, for he was alone, unarmed, in a house 
surrounded by soldiers, and watched by several resolute officers. 

“ I absolve you beforehand,” he said disdainfully, “for any efforts you may 
make to escape.” 

“ I thank you, general,” the Jaguar answered, with a ceremonious bow. 
“ 1 expect nothing else from your courtesy ; I make a note of your promise.” 

“ Be it so. Now, with your permission we are about to make our domiciliary 
visit.” 

“ Do so, general, pray do so ; if you desire it, I will myself act as your guide.” 

“ In my turn, I thank you for this obliging offer, but I do not wish to put 
your kindness to a trial ; the more so, as I am thoroughly acquainted with 
this house.” 


The Spy* 


85 


“ Do you think so, general ? ” 
judge for yourself.” 

The Jaguar bowed without replying, and carelessly leant his elbow on the 
couch upon which the clock stood. 

“ We will first begin with this saloon,” the general continued. 

“ You mean that you will finish with it,” the young man remarked, with an 
ironical smile. 

“ Let us look first at the secret door in the wall.” 

“ I see, you are better informed than I supposed.” 

“ You do not know all yet.” 

“ I hope so ; judging from the commencement, I expect some extraordinary 
discoveries.” 

“ Perhaps so. Will you make the spring work yourself, Caballero^ or would 
you prefer my doing it ? ” 

“ On my word, general, I confess that all this interests me so hugely that, 
until fresh orders, I desire to remain a simple spectator.” 

“ Pay attention, Caballero,” the general said in a menacing tone ; “I know 
that when I arrived you had a large party here; on my entrance your comrades 
fled.”- 

“ That is true,” the young man said. 

“ Take care,” the general continued; *‘if assassins are concealed, the blood 
will fall on your head.” 

“ General,” the Jaguar said seriously, “press the spring: the passage is empty; 
I require no aid but my own to deliver myself from your clutches.” 

The governor no longer hesitated; he walked resolutely to the wall, and 
pressed the spring; his officers had followed him, ready to aid him if any danger 
presented itself. The Jaguar did not stir. The door opened, and displayed a 
long and completely deserted corridor. 

“ Well, general, have I kept my wordP” the Jaguar said. 

“Yes, senor, I must concede it. Now, caballeros, “the general continued, 
addressing his officers, “draw swords, and forward 1” 

“ One moment, if you please,” said the Jaguar. 

“ What do you want, senor?” 

“ You will remember that I warned you you would end your domiciliary visit 
with this room ?” 

“Well?” 

“ I will keep that second promise as I did the first.” 

At the same instant, and ere the general and his officers could account for 
what was happening, the flooring gave way beneath their feet, and they rolled 
to the bottom of a vault. 

“ A pleasant journey 1” the Jaguar said with a laugh, as he closed the tray 
again. 


CHAPTER XVII. 

THE SPY. 

While these events were occurring, the sun had set, and night almost immedi- 
ately succeeded day. So soon as the Jaguar had closed the trap, he proceeded 
towards the masked door to rejoin his comrades; but a sound of footsteps out- 


86 


The F/'eehooters, 


side made him change his plans; he shut the door again, and returned to his 
old position. The stranger did not delay long. Although the night was too 
dark to allow the Jaguar to recognise his features, by the sparkling of his gold 
lace, and the clank of his spurs and steel scabbard on the pavement, he saw that 
he was once more in the presence of a, Mexican officer of rank. At the end of 
a moment, however, the Jaguar’s eyes, gifted possibly with that precious quality 
possessed by animals of the feline race to see through the darkness, appeared to 
have recognised the stranger. 

. The young man frowned, and gave a start of disappointment. 

• “ Is there no one here ?” the officer asked. 

“Who are you, and what do you want?” the Jaguar answered, disguising his 
voice. 

“That is a curious question,” the officer continued; “first have this room 
lighted up, which looks like a cut-throat’s den, and then we will talk.” « 

“It is not necessary for what we have to say to each other; you can leave 
your sabre at rest; although this house is dark, it is no cut-throat den.” 

“ What has become of General Rubio and the officers who accompanied 
him?” 

“ Am I their keeper. Colonel Melendez?” 

“ Who are you, who appear to know me and answer so strangely?” 

“ Perhaps a friend, vexed at seeing you here, and who would be glad were 
you elsewhere.” 

“ A friend would not hide himself.” 

“ Why not, if circumstances compel him?” 

“ A truce to this exchange of peurile speeches; will you answer my question, 
yes or no?” 

“ Suppose I refuse ?” 

“ I shall know how to compel you.” 

“ That is haughty language, colonel.” 

“ Which I shall support by deeds.” 

“ I do not think so ; not that I doubt your courage — Heaven forbid, for I have 
long known it.” 

“ Well! what will prevent me?” 

“ You have not the means to carry out your wishes.” 

“ They are easily found.” 

“ Try it.” 

While speaking, the colonel had mechanically taken a couple of steps into 
the room. 

“ I shall soon return,” he said, as he laid his hand on the door-latch. 

The Jaguar only answered by a hoarse laugh. The door was closed ; in vaio 
iid the colonel try to open it. 

“ I am your prisoner, then?” he said, addressing the young man. 

“ Perhaps so ; it will depend on yourself.” 

“You wish me to fall into the same snare into which the general and his 
officers probably fell before me. Try it, senor; still, I warn you that I am on 
my guard, and will defend myself.” 

“ Your words are harsh, colonel. You gratuitously insult a man of whom, up 
to the present, you have no cause to complain, and whom you will regret having 
attacked when you know him.” 

“ Tell me the fate of my companions, and what your intentions are with re- 
gard to myself.” 

“My intentions are better than yours, colonel; for, if you had me in your 
power, as I have you in mine, it is probable that your general, if not yourself. 


The Spy. 


S7 


would make me pay dearly for the imprudence I have committed. General 
Rubio and his officers are my prisoners, and you feel in your heart that I can do 
what I please with you ; withdraw the soldiers who surround my house, pledge 
me your word of honour that no attempt shall be made on me for four-and- 
twenty hours, and I will immediately restore you all to liberty.” 

“ I know not who you are, senor; the conditions you wish to impose on me 
are those of a conqueror.” 

“^\^^^at else am I at this moment?” the young man interrupted violently. 

“ Be it so; but I cannot take it on myself to accept or decline these con- 
ditions, as the general alone has the right to form a determination and pledge 
Lis word.” 

“ Then ask himself what his intentions are, and he will answer you.” 

“ Is he here, then?” the colonel exclaimed eagerly. 

“ It is of little consequence to you where he is, provided he hear and answer 
you ; do not stir from where you are ; one step further, and you are a dead man ; 
what is your resolve?” 

“ I accept.” 

“ In that case speak to him.” 

The Jaguar worked the spring that opened the trap, and displayed the en- 
trance of the vault into which the Mexican officers had been so suddenly hurled; 
but the darkness was so intense that the colonel could perceive nothing, in spite 
of his efforts to try and distinguish a gleam ; he merely heard a slight sound 
produced by the grating of the trap in its groove. The colonel understood that 
he must get out of the difficulty as well as he could. 

“ General,” he said, “can you hear me?” 

“ Who speaks?” the general answered immediately. 

** I, Colonel Melendez de Gongora.” 

“ Heaven be praised!” the general shouted; “in that case all goes well.” 

“ On the contrary; like yourself, I am in the hands of the accursed in- 
surgents.” 

“ Mil demoniosl” the old soldier shouted angrily. 

“ Are you all right?” 

“ Bodily, yes; my officers and- myself have received no wounds; I must confess 
that the demon who played us this trick was so far civil.” 

“ Thanks, general,” the Jaguar said. 

“Ah, salteador,” the angry general exclaimed; “I swear by Heaven to settle 
our accounts some day.” 

“ I hope so too ; but at present, believe me, you had better listen to what 
Colonel Melendez has to say to you.” 

“I suppose I must,” the governor muttered. “Speak, colonel,” he added 
aloud. 

“ General, we are offered our liberty on condition,” the colonel immediately 
replied, “that we pledge our word of honour to attempt nothing against the man 
whose prisoner we are.” 

“ Or against his adherents, whoever they may be.” 

“ Be it so ; or against his adherents, during the next twenty-four hours, and 
that the house shall be left free.” 

“ But supposing I do refuse ? ” 

“ In that case, I will treat you and yours exactly as you intended to treat me 
and mine.” 

“ That is to say ? ” 

You will be all shot within a quarter of an hour.” 

There was a mournful silence. No other sound could be heard but the dry 


88 


The Freebooters, 


and monotonous one produced by the escapement of the clock. These men, 
collected without seeing each other, in so narrow a space, felt their hearts beat 
as if to burst their chests ; they trembled with impotent rage, for they recognise^ 
that they were really in the hands of an implacable foe. 

“ Viva Dios 1” the colonel shouted ; “ better to die than surrender thus ! ” 

And he rushed forward with uplifted sabre. Suddenly a hand of iron clutched 
him, threw him down, and he felt the point of his own sword, which he had let 
fall, slightly prick his throat. 

“ Surrender, or you are a dead man,” a rough voice shouted in his ear. 

“ No ; mil demonios ! ” the colonel said, furiously ; “ I will not surrender to a 
bandit ; kill me.” 

“ Stop,” the Jaguar said : “ I insist.” 

The man who held the colonel down left him at liberty, and the latter rose, 
ashamed and partly stunned. 

Well,” the young man continued, do you accept, general ? ” 

“Yes, demon,” the latter replied passionately; “but I shall revenge myself.” 

“ Then, you give me your word as a soldier that the conditions I impose on 
you will be carried out by you ? ” 

“ I give it ; but who guarantees me that you will act honourably on your side P” 

“ My honour, general,” the Jaguar answered ; “ my honour, which, as you 
know, is as unsullied as your own.” 

“ Very good, senor ; I trust to you as you do to me. Must we surrender our 
swords ? ” 

“ General,” the Jaguar answered nobly, “ a brave soldier never separates from 
his weapons ; I should blush to deprive you of yours.” 

“ Thanks for that courtesy, Caballero, for it proves to me that every good 
feeling is not dead in your heart. Now I am waiting for you to supply me with 
the means for leaving the place into which you made me fall.” 

“You shall be satisfied, senor general. As for you, colonel, you can 
retire, for the door is now open.” 

“ Not before I have seen you,” the officer answered. 

“ What good would that do, since you have not recognised me P ” the young 
man said. 

“ The Jaguar ! ” the colonel ejaculated in surprise. “ Ah 1 I might have 
expected that ; I shall certainly remain now,” he added, with a singular 
inflection in his voice. 

“ Very good,” said the chief, “ remain.” 

He clapped his hands, and four peons entered with lighted candelabra. So 
soon as the saloon was lit up, the young officer perceived the general and his 
aides-de-camp standing up in the vault. A criado brought a ladder to the trap, 
and the Mexicans ascended — half-pleased, half-ashamed. 

“ Gentlemen,” the insurgent continued, “ you are free. Any other in my 
place would, doubtless, have profited by the bad position in which you were, to 
impose on you conditions far harder than those I demanded of you ; but I only 
understand a fair fight, steel against steel, chest against chest. Go in peace.” 

“ One word before separating,” said the general. 

“ I listen, Caballero.” 

“ Whatever may be the circumstances under which we may meet at a later 
date, I shall not forget your conduct of this day.” 

“ I dispense you from any gratitude on that account, general ; the more 90, 
because if I acted thus it was for reasons entirely strange to you.” 

“ Whatever be the motive of your conduct, my honour urges me to remember 
your conduct.” 


The Spy. 


8g 


“ As you please ; I only ask you to remember our conditions.” 

They shall be punctually carried out.” 

The Jaguar, upon this, bowed to the general ; the lattei returned his salute, 
and making a sign to his officers to follow him, left the room. The young chief 
listened attentively to the sound of the retiring footsteps, and then drew 
himself up. 

“ What ! ” he exclaimed with surprise, on perceiving the colonel, “ are you still 
here, Senor Don Juan ? ” 

“ Yes, brother,” the latter answered, in a sad voice, “ I am still here.” 

The Jaguar walked rapidly up to him, and took his hand. 

Listen, brother ; this situation cannot endure long ; whatever happens, it 
must cease. Time fails me at this moment to explain to you certain matters 
you ought to know ; but we will meet to-morrow.” 

“ Where, and at what hour ? ” 

“ At the Salto del Frayle, at two in the afternoon.” 

“ Why so far and so late, brother ? ” 

“ Because between this and then something will happen, which I cannot tell 
at present, but which will doubtless oblige me to cross the bay and seek shelter 
on the mainland.” 

“ Tis a long way off, but I will keep the appointment. Good-bye, brother, 
until to-morrow.” 

“ Death alone can prevent me being at the place of meeting I have selected.” 

The two political enemies, so cordially attached, shook hands and separated. 
The colonel wrapped himself in his cloak, and immediately left the room and the 
house. The Jaguar, as soon as he was alone, closed the trap-door, touched the 
spring of the secret door, and left the saloon in his turn, to enter the dark 
corridor through which, on the general’s entrance, his friends had disappeared 
at the heels of John Davis. This passage, after several turnings, opened into 
a rather large room, in which all the conspirators were assembled, silent and 
gloomy, waiting, with their hands on their weapons. 

Lanzi was standing sentry in the doorway, to prevent any surprise : the 
Jaguar resumed his mask, thrust his pistols in his girdle, and entered. On 
seeing him, the conspirators gave a start of joy, which was immediately 
suppressed, however, at a signal from the young man. 

“ My comrades,” he said, in a saddened voice, “ I have evil tidings to com- 
municate to you. Had not my measures been so well taken, we should all have 
been prisoners at this moment. A traitor has slipped in among us, and this 
man has given the governor the most detailed and positive information about 
our projects. A miracle has alone saved us.” 

A shudder of indignation ran through the ranks of the conspirators ; by an 
instinctive movement they separated, giving each other sinister glances, and 
laying their hands on their weapons. The vast hall, only lighted by a smoky 
lamp, whose reddish light threw strange reflections at each breath of air on the 
energetic faces of the conspirators, had a mournful and yet striking aspect. 

At this moment a man burst through the conspirators, thrusting back right 
and left those who barred his passage, and placed himself opposite the young chief. 

“ Listen,” he said, turning to his comrades, “ and let what you are about to 
hear form a profitable lesson to you ; — The man who revealed the secret of your 
meetings to the governor, the man who sold you, the man, in a word, who 
wished to give you up, I know 1 ” 

“ His name, his name ! ” all the conspirators shouted. 

“ Silence ! ” the Jaguar ordered ; “ allow our comrade to speak,” 

** Do not give me that name, Jaguar, for I am not your comrade, and never 


90 


The Freebooters, 


was. I am your enemy, not your personal enemy, for I do not know you ; but 
the enemy of every man who tries to tear from the Mexican Republic that 
Texas where I was bom, and which is the most brilliant gem of the union. It 
was I, I alone who sold you, I, Lopez Hidalgo d’Avila, but not in the cowardly 
way you suppose, for when the moment arrived for me to make myself known 
to you, I had sworn to do so ; now you know all, and I am in your power. There 
are my weapons,” he added, as he threw them disdainfully on the ground; “ I 
shall not resist, and you can do with me as you please.” 

After uttering these words with a haughty accent impossible to render, Don 
Lopez Hidalgo proudly crossed his arms on his chest, drew up his head, and 
waited. The conspirators had listened to this strange revelation with an in- 
dignation and rage that attained such a pitch of violence that their will was, so 
to speak, paralysed, and in spite of themselves they remained motionless. But 
so soon as Don Lopez had finished speaking, their feelings suddenly burst out, 
and they rushed upon him with tiger-yells. 

“ Stay, stay ! ” the Jaguar shouted, as he rushed forward and made of his own 
person a rampart for the man on whom twenty daggers were lifted ; “ stay, 
brothers ; as this man has said, he is in our power, and cannot escape us ; 
although his blood be that of a traitor, let us not commit an assassination, but 
try him.*’ 

“ Yes, yes,” the conspirators yelled ; “ let us try him.” 

“ Silence,” the Jaguar ordered ; and then, turning to Don Lopez Hidalgo, 
who, during their proceedings, had remained as calm and quiet as if he were a 
stranger to what was going on ; “ will you answer frankly the questions I ask 
you ? ” he inquired. 

“Yes,” Don Lopez simply replied. 

“ Was it pure love of your country, as you call it, that urged you to pretend 
to be one of us in order to betray us more securely, or was it not rather the hope 
of a rich reward ? ” 

The Mexican shrugged his shoulders with disdain. 

“ I am as rich as the whole of you put together,” he replied ; “ who does not 
know the wealthy Don Lopez Hidalgo d’Avila?” 

“ That is true,” one said ; “ this man, I am bound to allow, for I have been 
acquainted with him for years, does not know the amount of his fortune.” 

The Jaguar’s forehead was wrinkled by the effect of a little thought. 

“ Then that noble and revered feeling, the love of one’s country, instead of 
elevating your soul and making generous feelings spring up in it,” he continued, 
“ has made you a coward. Instead of fighting honestly and loyally in the day- 
light against uci. you followed the gloomy path of espial to betray us.” 

“ I only picked up the weapon yourselves offered me. Did you fight, pray, in 
the open day? No, you conspired craftily in the darkness; like the mole, you 
dug the underground mine that was to swallow us up, and I countermined you. 
But what us4i is discussion ? for you will no more comprehend my assertionr 
than I can yours. — Now to the business, for I am convinced that is the only 
point on which we shall agree.” 

“ One moment, Don Lopez ; explain to me the reason why, when no suspicion 
pointed to you, you denounced yourself, and trusted to our mercy ? ” 

“Although unseen, I overheard what passed between you and your governor/* 
the Mexican coldly answered ; “ I saw in what way the perilous position in 
which I had succeeded in placing you turned to your advantage ; I understood 
that all was lost, and did not wish to survive our defeat.” 

** Then you know the conditions I imposed on General Rubio ? ” 

** And which he was constrained to accept. Yes, I know them j I am aware 


The Spy, 


9 * 


also, that you are too clever and determined a man not to profit by the twenty- 
four hours’ respite which you have so adroitly gained.” 

“ Good 1 That is all T wi^shed to know. When you entered our association 
you accepted all the laws 

“ I did so.” 

The Jaguar turned to the conspirators, who had listened, panting with fury 
and impatience, to this singular dialogue. 

- Brothers,” he said, “ you have heard all that passed between Don Lopez 
Hidalgo d’Avila and myself ?” 

“Yes,” they answered. 

“ On your soul and conscience, is this man guilty?** 

“ He is guilty,” they burst forth. 

“ What punishment does he deserve ? ” 

“ Death ! ” 

“You hear, Don Lopez; your brethren condemn you.” 

“ I thank them ; that favour is the only one I hoped and desired to receive 
from them.” 

There was a moment of supreme silence; all eyes were fixed on the Jaguar, 
who, with his head hanging on his breast, and frowning brows, seemed plunged 
in serious thought. Suddenly the young man raised his head ; a lightning 
glance flashed from his eyes, a strange smile curled his lip, and he said, with a 
tone of bitter irony — 

“ Your brethren have condemned you to die ; well, I, their chief, condemn 
you to live ! ” 

Don Lopez, despite all his courage, felt himself turn pale at these cutting 
words; he instinctively stooped to pick up the weapons he had previously 
hurled at his feet ; but the Jaguar guessed his thoughts. 

“ Seize that man I ” he shouted. 

John Davis and two or three other conspirators rushed on the Mexican, and, in 
spite of his active resistance, soon rendered him powerless. 

“ Bind him,” the Jaguar next ordered. 

“ Don Lopez Hidalgo d’Avila,” the Jaguar continued, when he was obeyed, in 
a hollow voice, “ traitor to your brothers, your false tongue will be plucked out 
and your ears cut off. Such is the sentence which I, the chief of the Freebooters, 
pass on you ; and in order that everybody may know that you are a traitor, a T 
will be cut on your forehead, between your eyebrows.” 

This sentence caused a momentary stupor among the company ; but soon a 
tiger-like yell burst from all their panting chests, and it was with a tremor of 
ferocious jov that these men prepared to carry out the atrocious sentence pro- 
nounced by their chief. The prisoner struggled in vain to burst the bonds that 
held him. In vain he demanded death with loud cries. As the Jaguar had said, 
the lion’s paw was on him ; the conspirators were inexorable, and the sentence 
was carried out in all its rigour. 

An hour later Don Lopez Hidalgo d’Avila, bleeding and mutilated, was de- 
posited at the door of the governor’s palace. On his chest was fastened a large 
placard, on which were written in blood the two words — 

Cobardel Traidorl 

After this fearful execution, the conspirators continued their meeting as if 
nothing extraordinary had interrupted them. But the Jaguar’s revenge was 
foiled — at least partially ; for when the unhappy victim was picked up at day- 
break, he was dead. Don Lopez had found the strength and courage to dash 
Dut his brains against the wall. 


CHAFFER XVnf- 


THE PULQUERIA, 

Thr same day on which we resume our narrative, on the firing of the cannon 
troin the fort that commands the entrance to the port of Galveston, to announce 
the setting of the sun, whose glowing disc had just disappeared in the sea, 
colouring the horizon with a ruddy hue for a long distance, the town, which had 
during the day been plunged into a mournful torpor owing to the heat, woke up 
all at once with lengthened and joyous clamour. 

The streets, hitherto solitary, were peopled as if by enchantment by an 
immense crowd, which emerged in disorder from all the houses, so eager were 
they to breathe the fresh air of evening which the sea-breeze brought up on its 
humid wing. The shops were opened, and lit up with an infinite number of 
Coloured paper lamps. 

Two young gentlemen, dressed in the simple but graceful uniform of officers of 
the United States navy, who were coming from the interior of the town, forced 
their way with some difficulty through the crowd that impeded their every step 
on the port, as they proceeded toward the pier, where a large number of boats 
of all shapes and sizes were tied up. They had scarce reached the landing- 
place ere they were surrounded by some twenty boatmen, who offered their 
services, while exaggerating in their praiseworthy fashion the surprising quali- 
ties and unparalleled speed of their boats. 

After giving a careless glance at the numerous skiffs dancing before them, 
the officers abruptly dismissed the boatmen by peremptorily declining their ser- 
vices ; but they did not get rid of them till they had told them they had a boat 
of their own, and scattered some small change among them. 

We have said that the sun had set for some time, and hence the night was 
gloomy. Still the two officers, in order doubtless to assure themselves that the 
darkness concealed no spy, walked several times up and down the jetty, while 
conversing together in a low voice, and examining with the most scrupulous 
attention those spots which might have afforded shelter to any one. They were 
certainly alone. One of them then drew from his breast one of those silver 
whistles such as boatswains employ on board ships, and then produced a soft 
and prolonged note thrice repeated. A few moments passed, and nothing proved 
to the officers that their signal had been heard. At last, a soft whistle traversed 
the air and expired on the ears of the two men who were listening, with bodies 
bent forward, and faces turned to the sea. 

“ They are coming,” said one. 

We will wait,” his companion answered laconically. 

They carefully wrapped themselves in their cloaks to guard themselves against 
the damp sea-breeze ; they leant against an old gun that served to tie boats up, 
and remained motionless as statues, without exchanging a syllable. 

At length a remote sound, scarcely perceptible, but which practised ears could 
recognise, rose from the sea. This sound became gradually more and more 
distinct; and it was easy, especially for sailors, to recognise the sharp and 
cadenced sound of oars striking against the tholes and dipping into the sea ; 
altl ough tiiesc oars were mufHed, and employed with the utmost caution. 

In fact, the boat itself ere long became visible. Its long black outline stood 
out in the luminous line traced by the mcon on the waves, as it approached ths 


The Puhjueria. 




jetty at great speed. The two officers had bent forward curiously, but did not 
leave the post of observation they had selected. On coming within pistol-shot, 
the boat stopped. Suddenly, a rough voice, lowered prudently, said — 

“ The night is dark, it is imprudent to wander hap-hazard on the sea-shore,** 

“Yes, when a man is alone, and feels his heart die out in his bosom,” one of 
the officers answered. 

“ Who can flatter himself with possessing a firm heart?” the voice went on. 

“ The man whose arm is ever ready to support his words for the defence of 
a good cause,” the other at once replied. 

“Come, come,” the sailor exclaimed gaily, “lay on your oars, lads, the 
jaguars are out hunting.” 

“ Take care of the coyotes,” the officer said again. 

The boat pulled up alongside the jetty ; the officers had by this time le’ft their 
place of shelter, and hurried to the end of the jetty. There a man, dressed in 
sailor’s garb, with an oil-skin sou’wester, whose large brim concealed his features, 
was standing motionless, with a pistol in either hand. 

“ Patria !” he said sharply, when the officers were only two paces from him. 

“ Libertad 1 ” they answered, without hesitation. 

“Viva Dios!” the sailor said, “it is a good wind that brings you, Don 
Serapio, and you too, Don Cristoval.” 

“ All the better, Ramirez,” said the officer addressed as Serapio. 

“ Have you any news, then ?” his comrade asked, curiously. 

“ Excellent, Don Cristoval, excellent,” Ramirez answered, as he rubbed his 
hands gleefully. 

“ Oh, oh 1” the two officers muttered ; “ tell us it, then, Ramirez.” 

The latter took a suspicious glance around. 

“ I should like to do so,” he said, “ but the place where we are does not seem 
at all propitious for conversation.” 

“That is true,” said Don Serapio; “but what prevents us getting into your 
boat?” 

“ But,” said Ramirez, “ but then we should have to push off ; and I am no 
more anxious than I presume you to be, to be discovered and hailed by some 
guard-boat.” 

“ That is true,” Don Cristoval objected; “ we must find other and less perilous 
means for conversing.” 

“ What o’clock is it?” Ramirez asked. 

Don Serapio struck his repeater. 

“Just ten,” he answered. 

•• Good : in that case we have time, since the affair does not come off till 
midnight. Follow me. I know a pulqueria where we shaft be as safe as on the 
top of the Coffre de Perote.” 

“ But the boat ?” Don Cristoval objected. 

“ Be at your ease — it is commanded by Lucas. However clever the Mexicans 
may be, he is the man to play at hide-and-seek with them for the enthre 
night.” 

The officers bowed, but made no further remark. The three men then set 
out, Ramirez walking a few paces in advance of his companions. Although the 
night was so dark that it was impossible to distinguish objects ten paces off, 
the sailor proceeded through the narrow and winding streets of the town with 
as much certainty and ease as if traversing it in broad daylight, in the bright 
sunshivf'. 

Close to the cabildo, at the corner of the Plaza Mayor, stood a species of 
cabin, built of ships’ planks, clumsily nailed together, which offered, in the 


94 


Tile Freeh ooters. 


stifling midday hours, a precarious shelter to the leperos and idlers of all sorts. 

It was in front of this unclean pothouse, from the broken door of which 
escaped a reddish steam, laden with pestilential emanations, that Ramirez 
stopped. 

“Where the deuce are you taking us?”’ Don Serapio asked him, with an 
expression of disgust. 

The sailor laid a finger on his lip. 

“ Silence !” he said, “ you shall know. Wait for me here an instant, but be 
careful to keep in the shade, so as not to be seen ; the customers of this honest 
establishment have such numerous reasons to distrust spies, that if they saw 
you suddenly appear among them, they might be capable of playing you a trick.” 

“ Why enter such a den as this ? ” 

“ You will soon know ; but I can tell you nothing at this moment.” 

“ Go on, then, as it is so; still, I beg you not to keep us too long at the door 
of this disgusting house.” 

“ All right, I will go in and come out again.” 

Then, after again recommending the officers to be prudent, he pushed the 
door of the pulqueria, which at once opened, and he went in. In the darkest 
corner of the room two men, almost completely hidden by the dense cloud 
of smoke that rose over the heads of the gamblers, carefully wrapped in their 
zarapes of Indian manufacture, with the brim of their hats pulled down over 
their eyes (a very needless precaution in the darkness where they were), and 
leaning on their long rifles, whose butts rested on the floor of the room, were 
whispering in each other’s ear, while taking, at intervale, anxious glances a£ the 
leperos assembled a few paces from them. 

The gamblers, fully engaged, did not dream of watching the strangers, who, 
however, from their martial demeanour, and the cleanliness of their attire, 
formed a striking contrast to them, and evidently did not belong to the com- 
pany that usually assembled at this rancho ; hence the strangers had very 
unnecessarily taken their precautions to escape from inquisitive looks, supposing 
such were their object. 

Eleven o’clock struck from the cabildo ; at the same moment a form appeared 
in the doorway. This man stopped, took a sharp glance round the room, and 
then, after a slight hesitation, doubtless caused by the difficulty of recognising 
in the crowd the persons he wished to see, he entered the rancho, and walked 
hastily toward the strangers. The latter turned at the sound of his footsteps, 
and gave a start of joy on recognising him. We need hardly say that it was 
Ramirez. 

“ Well,” Ramirez asked, “ what have you done ? ” 

“ Nothing,” one of the men answered, “ but wait.” 

“ And those scoundrels ?” 

“ Are already more than three parts ruined.” 

** All the better ; they will march with greater impetuosity.” 

“ They must soon see the bottom of their purses.” 

“ Do you think so ?” 

“ I am sure of it ; they have been playing since eight in the morning, so the 
pulquero says.” 

“ Without leaving off ?” the sailor said, in surprise. 

“ They have not ceased for an instant.” 

“ All the better.” 

“ By-the-bye,” one of the strangers remarked, “ where are the men you 
promised to bring ? ” 

*• They are here, and you will see them in a mom^irf Z’ 


The Pulqueria* 


05 


** Very good, then it is still for this night P 
You must know that better than I.” 

•* Why did you not bring them in at once P” 

“ I should be very sorry to do so, at least for the present. They are cool and 
steady naval officers, whose smile, under all circumstances, resembles a grimace, 
so close do they keep their lips. The free-and-easy manner of our worthy 
associates,” he added, “might possibly displease them.” 

But when the master arrives ?” 

Oh, then the affair will rest * ith him alone.” 

At the same moment a sharp whistle was heard outside, and the gamblers 
sprang up as if they had received an electric shock. 

“ Here he is,” said Ramirez ; “ I shall be back directly.” 

“ Where are you going ?” one of the strangers asked. 

“ To join those who are waiting for me.” 

And winding through the groups, the sailor left the pulqueria unnoticed. 
Ramirez had hardly left the room, ere the door was burst open by a violent 
blow, and a man rushed in. All present took off their hats, as if by common 
agreement, and bowed respectfully. 

The stranger seemed to be twenty, or two-and-twenty at the most, though he 
was probably older ; he was slim and delicate, but perfectly proportioned, and 
all his movements were marked by indescribable grace and nobility. His 
beardless face was surrounded by magnificent black ringlets, which escaped in 
profusion from under his hat, and fell in large clusters on his shoulders. 

This man had a lofty and wide forehead, intelligent and pensive, and a deep 
and well-opened eye, an aquiline nose with flexible nostrils, and a disdainful 
and mocking lip. All his features made up a strange, but commanding counte- 
nance. He might be loved, but he must be feared. 

Who was he? 

His best friends, and he counted many such, could not say. 

He was commonly called El Alferez by his friends and enemies. This word, 
which in Spanish literally signifies sub-lieutenant, had become the name of this 
singular person, which he had accepted, and to which he answered. 

After taking a haughty and assured glance at the persons collected in dis^ 
orderly groups around him, the young man leant against a barrel, and, with 
affected carelessness, said to the individuals who surrounded him — “ Well, my 
scamps, have you amused yourselves properly P ” 

A murmur of general satisfaction ran along the ranks. 

“ Good, my coyotes,” he continued, with the same mocking tone ; “ now, I 
suppose, you would like to smell a little blood ? ” 

“Yes,” these sinister persons answered unanimously. 

“ Well, console yourselves; I will let you smell it ere long, ai«i in a satisfactory 
manner. But I do not see Ramirez among you ; can he have been so awkward 
as to get himself hung ? Although he has deserved it a long time, I do not 
think him such a fool as to let himself be apprehended by spies.” 

These words were uttered in a soft voice, harmoniously modulated, but at the 
same time sharp and rather shrill. 

“ I heard my name,” said Ramirez, appearing. 

“ Yes ; are they both here ? ” 

“ Both.” 

“ That is excellent. Now, if the Jaguar be as true to his word as I am to 
mine, I answer for success.” 

“ I hold your Senor Alferez,” said a man who had entered the lOom 

some moments previously. 


96 


The Freebooters, 


** Rayo de Dios ! you and your comrades are welcome ; for, of course you 
are not alone.” 

“ I have twenty men, worth a hundred.” 

“ Bravo ! I recognise the Jaguar in that.” 

“ They only await a signal from me to come in.” 

Let them come ; time is precious, so let us not waste it in trifling." 

The Jaguar walked to the door, and threw away the lighted cigarette he heid 
in his hand. The twenty conspirators entered, and ranged themselves silently 
behind their chief. Ramirez came in immediately after, followed by the two 
naval officers. 

“ All is clearly understood between us. Jaguar? ” 

“ All.” 

We act toward each other with all frankness and honesty of purpose ? *• 

“ Yes.” 

“You swear it P ” 

“ Without hesitation, I swear it.” 

“ Thanks, my friend. On my side I swear to be a faithful comrade.” 

“ How many men have you ? ” 

“ As you see, thirty.” 

“ Who, added to the twenty I bring, give the respectable amount of fifty men; 
if the affair be properly managed, they are more than we require.” 

“ Now, let us divide our parts.” 

“ Nothing is changed, I think ; I will surprise the fort, while you board the 
corvette.” 

“ Agreed ; where are the guides ? ” 

“ Here,” the two men said, with whom Ramirez conversed when he entered 
the pulqueria the first time. El Alferez examined them attentively. 

“ You can start, I fancy.” 

“.How many men do you keep with you P ” 

“ Take them all ; I will only keep Ramirez and the two persons to whom he 
has to introduce me.” 

“ That is true,” said the sailor. 

“ Come, my coyotes,” El Alferez continued, “ follow your new chief. I place 
you temporarily under the orders of the Jaguar, to whom I surrender all my 
claims.” 

The men bowed, but made no reply. 

“And now, brothers,” the young man continued, “remember that you are 
about to fight for the liberty of your country, and that the man who commands 
you will not grudge his life for the success of the daring stroke he is about to 
attempt with your aid ; that ought to render you invincible. Go.” 

“ Do not forget the signal — one rocket, if we fail.” 

“ Three if we succeed ; and we shall do so, brother.” 

“ May heaven grant it.” 

“Till we meet again.” 

The two men shook hands, and the Jaguar quitted the pulqueria, followed by 
these savage men, who marched silently behind him, like wild beasts going in 
quest of prey. Ere long, none remained in the room but the two naval officers, 
Ramirez, and the pulquero, who, with eyes dilated by terror, looked and 
listened to all this, without understanding anything. El Alferez remained 
motionless, v/ith his body bent forward, so long as it was possible for him to 
hear the slightest sound of retiring footsteps ; when all had become silent 
again, he drew himself up, and turned to his comrades, who were as attentive 
as himself. 


The Tulqucria. 


Sf? 


“ May heaven favour us 1 ” he said, as he piously crossed himself. “ Now 
Caballeros, it is our turn.” 

“ We are ready,” the three men answered. 

El Alferez took a rapid glance round the room. The pulquero was standing 
motionless in a distant corner of the room. 

“ Hilloh ! ” El Alferez said to him ; “ come hither.” 

The pulquero obsequiously doffed his straw hat, and hastened to obey. 

‘ ‘ What do you desire, e3:cellency ? ” he asked. 

** Are you fond of money ? ” 

Well, tolerably so, excellency,” he replied, with a crafty grimace. 

“ Very good, here is an onza : when we go away, we will give you a second; 
but bear in mind that you must be deaf and blind.” 

“ That is easy,” he replied, as he pocketed the gold. 

Since the Jaguar’s departure, the two officers had been suffering from an 
anxiety they did not attempt to conceal, but which El Alferez did not appear to 
notice, for his face was quite radiant. In fact, the expedition they were going 
to attempt in the company of the daring partizan seemed to them not only rash 
but mad. 

“ Come, come, senors,” the young man said, with a smile, after attentively 
watching them for some moments, “ regain your courage ; hang it all, you look 
as if you had been buried and dug up again ; and we are not dead yet, I 
suppose.” 

“ That is true ; but we are not much better,” Don Serapio said significantly, 

El Alferez frowned. “ Can you be frightened ? ” 

“ We are not afraid of dying, but only of failing.” 

“ That is my business : I answer for success.” 

We are perfectly aware of what you are capable, senor-|H3ut we are only 
four men, and after all ” 

“ And the boat’s crew ? ” 

“ That is true ; but they are only sixteen men.” 

“ They will be enough.” 

El Alferez appeared to reflect for a moment, and then addressed the pulqueir?, 
who was standing anxiously near him — “ Has anything been left with you fo^* 
me ? ” he asked him. 

“Yes, excellency; this evening, at oracion, a man brought a trunk on his 
shoulders.” 

“ Where is it ? ” 

“ As the man assured me that it contained articles of value, I had the chest 
placed in my bedroom.” 

“ Lead me to your room.” 

“ Whenever you please, excellency.” 

“ Senors,” El Alferez said, addressing the two naval officers and Ramirez, 
“ wait for me in this room.” 

And without awaiting a reply, he made a sign to the pulquero to lead tlie 
way, and left the room with a rapid step. There was a momentary silence with 
the three men ; they seemed to be engaged in sad thoughts, and looked anxiously 
around them. Time, which never stands still, had rapidly advanced during tne 
course of the events we have narrated. Nearly the whole night had passed 
away, the first gleams of dawn were beginning to whiten the smoky walls of 
the pulqueria, and already some inhabitants, who had risen earlier than th^ 
others, were venturing into the streets. 

“ Day will soon be here,” Don Serapio remarked, as he shook his head 
auxlousiy. 


The Freelooiers, 




** '^\Tiat matter P ” Ramirez answered. 

What matter, do you say?” Don Serapio replied in amazement; “but it 
seems to me that one of the most important conditions for the enterprise w*e 
are about to attempt is darkness.” 

'' Certainly,” Don Cristoval supported him ; “ if we wait till the sun has risen, 
any surprise will be impossible.” 

Ramirez shrugged his shoulders. 

“ You do not know the man under whose orders you have voluntarily placed 
yourselves,” he answered. 

You know him better than we do then, as you speak thus of him ? ” 

“ Better than you or any one,” the sailor said with considerable animation ; 
** I have the greatest faith in him.” 

“ Ah,” the two officers said, walking quickly up to him, “ who is he, then ? ” 

An ironical smile curled Ramirez’s delicate lip. 

“You know as well as I do ; a warm patriot, and one of the most renowned 
chiefs of the movement.” 

“ Hum ! ” Don Cristoval remarked, “ that is not what we want to know.” 

“ What then ? ” he asked with almost imperceptible irony. 

“ Hang it ! you say that you have lived ten years with this man,” Don Serapio 
went on ; “ you must know certain peculiarities about him which no one else is 
acquainted with, and which we should not be sorry to know.” 

“ That is possible ; unfortunately, I am utterly unable to satisfy your curiosity 
on that point ; if El Alferez has not thought proper to give you details about his 
private life, it is not my place to reveal them to you.” 

Don Serapio was about to reply rather sharply to the sailor, when the door 
opened through which Don Alferez had gone out, and the pulquero entered, 
followed by a lady. The two officers could scarce refrain from a cry of surprise 
cn recognising beneath this dress El Alferez himself. 

The costume of El Alferez, though not rich, was elegant, and in good tas'ce ; 
his face, half concealed beneath the silken folds of his rebozo, partly hid his 
haughty expression ; in his right hand he held a pretty sandal-wood fan, witli 
which he played with graceful nonchalance. • 

“ Well, Caballeros,” the young man said mincingly, “ do you not recognise 
me ? I am the daughter of your friend Dona Leonora Salcedo, Dona Mencia.” 

The three men bowed respectfully. 

“ Pardon me, senorita,” Don Serapio replied as he gravely kissed the tips of 
El Alferez’s fingers ; “ we know you perfectly well, but were so far from antici- 
pating the happiness of meeting you here, that ” 

“ Even at this moment, after hearing you speak, we dare not believe in the 
reality of what we see.” 

The pulquero looked on in alarm. The worthy man understood nothing of 
what was going on. 

“ I do not understand your'surprise, caballeros,” the feigned Dona Menciasaid; 
“ was it not arranged some days back between yourselves and my husband, that 
we should go this morning and breakfast with Commandant Rodriguez, on 
board the Liber tad corvette ? ” 

“ Of course,” Don Serapio quickly exclaimed ; “ excuse me, senorita, but I 
really do not know where my head is. How could I have forgotten that?” 

“ i will excuse you,” El Alferez replied with a smile, “but on condition that 
you repair your inexplicable forgetfulness, and rather ungallant behaviour, 
by offering me your arm to go on board the corvette at once.” 

“ The more so,” Don Cristoval added, “ as we have rather a long distance to 
go, and I have no doubt the commandant is expecting us,” 


At Sea, 




** I should think he was,” Ramirez ejaculated ; “ why he sent me with a boat 
to take you aboard.” 

“ S.ince that is the case, I think we shall do well by starting without further 
delay.” 

“ We are at your orders, senorita.” 

Stay, my good man,” El Alferez added in a soft voice, and addressing the 
pulquero, take this in recollection of me.” 

The good man, half stunned by what he saw, mechanically held out his right 
hand, into which the mysterious adventurer carelessly let a gold onza fall ; then, 
taking Don Serapio’s arm, he went out, preceded by Don Cristoval and Ramirez, 
who hurried to get the boat ready. 


CHAPTER XIX. 

AT SEA. 

It was about four in the morning ; the dawn was beginning to mark the horizon 
with wide white bands ; on the extreme line of the water, a bright red reflec- 
tion, the harbinger of sunrise, announced that the sun would soon appear. At 
this moment a light brig gradually emerged from the dense fog that hid it, and 
could be seen sailing close to the wind along the dangerous and rugged coast 
which forms the entrance of Galveston Bay, at the mouth of the Rio Trinidad. 

It was a neat vessel of three hundred tons at the most, with a gracefully. built 
hull, and its tall masts coquettishly raking. The rigging was carefully painted 
and tarred, the yards symmetrically square, and more than all, the menacing 
muzzles of four eight-pounder carronades which peered out of the bulwarks on 
either side, and the long thirty-two pounder swivel in the bows, indicated that, 
although a man-of-war pennant might not be flying from the mainmast, it was 
not the less resolved, in case of necessity, to fight energetically against the 
cruisers that might attempt to check its progress. 

At the moment when we first notice the brig, with the exception of the man 
at the wheel and an individual walking up and down the poop smoking his 
pipe, at the first glance the brig’s deck seemed deserted ; still, on examining it 
carefully, fifteen men constituting the watch might have been seen sleeping in 
the bows. 

“ Halloh ! ” the walker said suddenly, as he halted near the binnacle, and 
addressed the helmsman ; “ I fancy the wind is shifting.” 

“ Yes, Master Lovel,” the sailor answered, as he raised his hand to his woollen 
cap ; “ it has veered round two points.” 

Lovel was a man of about fifty, nearly as broad as he was tall, and beanng a 
striking resemblance to a barrel mounted on feet, but for all that gifted with far 
from common strength and activity ; his violet nose, his thick lips, and highly- 
coloured face, with large red whiskers, gave him a jovial appearance, to 
which, however, two small grey and deep-set eyes, full of fire and resolution 
imparted something sceptical and mocking. 

Morally, he was an honest, worthy man, open-hearted and loyal, an excellent 
sailor, and loving only two things, or rather beings, in the world : his captain, 
-who had brought him up, and, as he often said, had taught him to make his 
first splice by administering tobacco to him, and his ship, which he had seen 


IOC* 


The FreelooferSi 


built, which he had gone aboard when ready for sea and had never quitted 
since. 

Master Lovel had never known father or mother ; hence he had made the 
brig and his captain his family. All his loving faculties, a long time driven 
back and slumbering in his heart, were so fully concentrated on them, that 
what he felt for both went beyond the limits of a reasonable affection, and had 
acquired the veritable proportions of a gigantic fanaticism. However, the 
captain, of whom we shall soon speak, amply requited the old sailor’s friendship. 

“ By the way, lieutenant, I ask your pardon,” the helmsman continued ; “ do 
you know that we have been navigating queerly the last few days ? ” 

“ Do you think so, lad ? ” 

“ Hang it ! sir, these continued tacks, and that boat we sent ashore yesterday 
has not yet returned — all that is rather singulan” 

“ Hum ! ” the officer said, without any other expression of his opinion. 

“ Wiiere may we now be going, lieutenant ? ” the sailor went on. 

“ Are you very anxious to know ? ” Lovel asked him. 

“ Well,” the other said, as he turned his quid in his mouth, and sent forth a 
stream of blackish saliva, “ I confess that I should not be sorry to know.” 

“ Really now ? — well, my boy,” the old sailor said, with a crafty smile, “ if 
you are asked, you will answer that you do not know ; in that way you are 
certain of not compromising yourself.” 

Then, after looking for an instant at the helmsman’s downcast face on receiv- 
ing this strange answer, he added — “ Strike eight bells, my boy ; there is the 
sun rising over there behind the mountains ; call the watch.” 

And, after restoring his pipe to the corner of his mouth, he resumed his 
walk. The sailor seized the cord fastened to the clapper of the bell, and struck 
four double strokes. At this signal they knew so well, the men lying in the 
forecastle sprang up tumultuously, and rushed to the hatchway, shouting — 

“Up with you, starboard watch ; up, up, it is eight bells. Starboard watch, 
ahoy ! ” 

So soon as the watch was changed, the master gave the necessary orders to 
trim the vessel. Then, as the sun was beginning to rise above the horizon in a 
flood of ruddy vapour, which gradually dispersed the dense fog that had 
enveloped the brig throughout the night like a winding-sheet, he set a man to 
the foretop to look seaward, and examine the coast they were sailing along. 
When all these various duties had been discharged, the old sailor resumed his 
walk, taking a look every now and then at the masts, and muttering between 
his teeth — “ Where can we be going ? He would be very kind, if he would tell 
me : we are making a regular blind man’s traverse, and we shall be very lucky 
if we get out ot it safe and sound.” 

All at once his face brightened, and a glad smile spread over it. The captain 
had just left his cabin and come upon deck. Captain Johnson was at this period 
a man of hardly three-and-thirty years of age, and above the middle height ; his 
gestures were simple, graceful, and full of natural elegance ; his features were 
masculine and marked, and his black eyes, in which intelligence sparkled, gave 
his countenance an expression of grandeur, strength, and loyalty. 

“ Good morning, father,” he said to Master Lovel, as he cordially offered him 
his hand. 

“ Good morning, lad,” the other replied; “did you sleep well ?” 

“ Very well, thank you, father. Is there anything new 

At this question, apparently so simple, the lieutenant drew himself up, raised 
his hand to his hat, and answered deferentially — 

“ Caotain, there is nothing new on board. I tacked at three o’clock, and. 


Sea, 


IOC 


according to your orders, we having been sailing as close to the wind as we could, 
at a rate of six three-quarter knots an hour, under fore-top sails, and always 
keeping Galveston Point on the larboard quarter, 

“ That is well,” the captain answered. 

In all matters connected with duty. Master Lovel, in spite of the reiterated 
remarks of his chief, constantly maintained toward the latter the tone and 
manner of a subordinate to his superior. The captain, seeing that the old sailor 
could not be turned from this, ended by paying no attention to it, and left him 
free to speak as he thought proper. 

“ By the way, captain,” the lieutenant continued, with some hesitation, ** we 
are drawing near the gut ; do you intend to pass through it ? ” 

“ I do.” 

“ But we shall be sunk.” 

“ Not such fools.” 

“ Hum 1 I do not see how we shall escape it.” ^ 

“ You will see j besides, must we not go and pick up our boat, which has not 
yet returned ? ” 

“That is true ; I did not think of it.” 

“ Well, you see; and our passengers ?” 

“ I have not seen them yet this morning.” 

“ They will soon come on deck.” 

“ A ship in sight,” -the watch shouted. 

“ That is what I was waiting for,” said the captain, 

“ To tack ? ” 

“ On the contrary, to pass without a shot in front of the fort that commands 
the entrance of the bay.” 

“ I do not understand.” 

“ All right ; you soon will.” 

And speaking to the look-out man, he said— 

“ In what direction is that ship ? ” 

“ To starboard, to windward of us ; it is coming out «f a creek, in which it 
was hidden, and steering straight down on the brig.” 

“ Very good,” the captain answered ; then, turning to Lovel, he continued : 
“ This ship is chasing us ; we shall, by constant short tacks, pass the fort and 
the battery which crosses fire with it. The Mexicans, who are watching us, 
feeling convinced that we cannot escape their cruiser, will not take the trouble 
to fire at us, but let us pass through without offering any obstacle.” 

And, leaving his lieutenant astounded at this singular line of argument, which 
he did not at all comprehend, the captain went on the quarter-deck, and leaning 
over the gangway, began carefully watching the movements of the ship signalled 
by the look-out. 

The men had been quietly beaten to quarters, and thirty powerful sailors, 
armed to the teeth, were holding the running rigging, ready to obey the slightest 
signal from their captain. For more than an hour the brig had been approach- 
ing the coast, and the captain, being now compelled to skirt a submarine reef, 
whose situation was not positively known to him, ordered sail to be reduced, 
and advanced, sounding-lead in hand. The cruiser, on the contrary, was 
literally covered with canvas, and grew momentarily larger, while assuming the 
imposing proportions of a first-class corvette ; its black hull could be clearly 
distinguished, along which ran a long white stripe, containing sixteen port-holes, 
through which passed the muzzles of her guns. On the shore, to which the 
brig was now close, could be seen a great number of persons of both sexes, who, 
shouting, yelling, and clapping their hands, eagerly followed the incidents of 


Ipt 


The Freebooters, 


tb'S strange chase. Suddenly a light cloud of smoke rose from the bow of 
the corvette, the sound of a gun was dully heard, and a Mexican flag was 
hoisted. 

“ Ah, ah! ” Captain Johnson said ; “she has at length decided on throwing 
off her incognito. Come, lieutenant, politeness deserves the same ; show her 
our colours.” 

A minute later, a large star-spangled flag was majestically fluttering at the 
stern of the brig. At the appearance of the United States colours, so auda- 
ciously hoisted, a shout of fury was raised aboard the Mexican corvette, which 
was taken up by the crowd assembled at the point, though it was impossible to 
tell, owing to the distance, whether they were shouts of joy or anger. 

In the meanwhile the sun was beginning to rise, the morning was growing 
apace, and there must be an end to the affair, especially as the corvette, con- 
fiding in her strength, and now almost within gun-shot, would not fail to open 
fire on the American vessel. 

The captain gave his lieutenant a sign to come to him, and bending down his 
ear, whispered something. 

“ Eh, eh I ” the lieutenant said with a hearty laugh, “ that is an idea. By 
Jove ! we may have some fun.” 

And, without saying another word, he proceeded forwards. On reaching the 
swivel gun he had it unlashed and carefully loaded, adding a ball and a grape 
shot to the ordinary charge. Bending over the sight he seized the screw placed 
under the breech, then making a sign to the men who stood on either side with 
handspikes, he began laying the gun slowly and with the utmost precaution, 
scrupulously calculating the distance that separated the two ships, and the de- 
viation caused by the rolling. At length, when he believed he had attained the 
desired result, he seized the lanyard, fell back, and made a signal to the captain, 
who was impatiently awaiting the termination of his proceedings, 

“ Attention ! ” the latter shouted ; “ stand by, all.” 

There was a moment of supreme expectation. 

Is all clear ?” 

“ Yes,” the lieutenant replied. 

“Ready about,” the captain ordered; “down with the helm 1 Ease off the 
jib sheets ! Sheet home top sails 1 Sheet home lower sails 1 Haul the bow- 
lines taut ! ” 

The sailors hurried to the running rigging, and the ship, obedient to the 
impulse given it, majestically swung round. At the moment when it fell cff, and 
had its bows turned toward the broadside of the corvette. Master Lovel, who 
was watching for a favourable opportunity to carry out the orders he had 
received, sharply pulled the lanyard and fired. The Mexicans, confounded by 
this sudden aggression, which they were far from anticipating from an enemy 
apparently so weak, replied furiously, and a shower of iron and lead hurtled 
over the deck and through the rigging of the American ship. The fort and 
battery continued to preserve the strictest neutrality, and Captain Johnson did 
not take the trouble to reply. 

“ Brace up closer to the wind 1 ” he shouted. “ Haul down the sheets I we 
have had fun enough, lads.” 

The brig continued its course ; and when the smoke had dispersed, the 
Mexican corvette could be perceived in a pitiable condition. The shot fired by 
Master Lovel had carried away her bowsprit close by the head, which naturally 
entailed the fall of the foremast, and the poor corvette bore up to repair hastily 
the worst of the damage. 

On board the brig, owing to the hurry in which the Mexicans had returned 


At Sea. 


103 


the tire, only one man had been killed and three slightly wounded. As for the 
damage, it was trifling ; only a few ropes were cut, that was all. 

“ Now,” the captain said, as he came down from the quarterdeck, “ in ten 
minutes, father, you will tack, and when we are abreast of the fort you will lie 
to, let down a boat, and let me know.” 

“What!” the lieutenant could not refrain from saying, “you mean to go 
ashore?” 

“ Hang it 1 ” said the captain ; “ why, I only came here for that purpose.” 

“ Are you going to the fort ?” 

“ Yes. Still, as it is always as well to be on the right side, you will send into 
the boat the ten most resolute men of the crew, with axes, cutlasses, muskets, 
and pistols. Let all be in order, and ready for fighting.” 

“ 1 fancy those precautions will be unnecessary,” said a man who had just 
come on deck. 

“Ah! it is you. Master Tranquil,” the captain replied, as he shook hands 
with the old hunter; for it was he who had so unexpectedly interfered in the 
conversation. “ What do you say ?” 

“ 1 say,” the Canadian replied, in his calm voice, “that your precautions will 
probably be unnecessary.” 

“Why so?” 

“ Hang it ! I don’t know, for I am not a sailor. But look for yourself. Do 
you not think as I do — that something extraordinary is taking place on board 
the corvette ? ” 

The captain quickly opened his telescope, and fixed it on the Mexican ship. 

“ It is true,” he said, a moment later. “ Oh, oh I Can our audacious attempt 
have proved successful ?” 

“ All leads to the supposition,” said the hunter with his old stoicism. 

“ By heavens ! I will ascertain.” 

“ What will you do ?” 

“ By Jupiter 1 convince myself of what is taking place.” 

“ As you please.” 

“ Bear up ! ” the captain ordered. 

The manoeuvre was executed. The sheets were let go, and the brig, catching 
more wind in its sails, advanced rapidly toward the corvette, on board which a 
strange scene was taking place at this moment, which must interest Captain 
Johnson in the highest degree. But, in order to make the reader understand 
this scene, we must now return to El Alferez and his comrades. 

At the moment when the four men reached the jetty, although it was about 
seven in the morning, the beach was nearly deserted ; only a few ships’ boats 
were fastened up and landing the men who were going to buy provisions. It 
was, therefore, an easy matter for the conspirators to embark without attracting 
attention to their movements. At a signal given by Ramirez, the boat, which 
had been pulling back and forwards during the night, came nearer land, and 
when the four men were seated in the stern sheets, and Ramirez had taken the 
tiller, the boat started for a small creek situated a little distance beyond the 
roadstead. 

The breeze, which during the night had been rather weak, had gradually 
risen ; the boat was easily got out to sea, sail was hoisted, and it soon entered 
the creek, where the “ Libertad ” was riding gently on her anchors. Still, it was 
easy for a sailor to see that this ship, apparently so quiet, was ready to slip out 
at a moment s notice. The sails, though furled, were cast off, and the anchor, 
apeak only needed a turn of the capstan to be tripped. Posted craftily in this 
creek, like a bird of prey in the hollow of a rock, the corvette could easily 


104 


The Freebooters. 


expand its sails, and dart out on any suspicious vessel signalled by the 
look-out. 

The boat had scarce come within hail ere a sentry, standing in the starboard 
gangway, hailed it in Spanish. Ramirez replied, and, leaning on the tiller, 
made the boat describe a graceful curve, and brought her up to the starboard 
ladder. The officer of the watch was standing at the top to receive the visitors. 
On perceiving a lady, he hurried down the ladder to offer his hand, and to do 
her the honours of the ship she was about to enter. 

To the right and left of the entrance, sailors, drawn up in file, saluted by 
raising their hands to their caps, while a boatswain gave the accustomed 
whistle. As we have already mentioned, the “ Libertad ” was a first-class cor- 
vette. Don Manuel Rodriguez, her commandant, was an old sailor, brought 
up in the Spanish navy, and had retained its healthy traditions ; hence, his ship 
was kept with great care and coquettishness. Don Serapio and Don Cristoval, 
themselves naval officers, could not refrain from expressing to the officer of the 
watch the satisfaction they experienced at seeing a vessel in such splendid 
order. 

Commandant Rodriguez hastened on deck to receive his guests; the boat 
was fastened astern of the corvette, while its crew went forward. 

Like the other Spanish American republics, the Mexican confederation has 
but few vessels ; its navy is composed of but a dozen ships at the most — con- 
sisting of corvettes, brigs, and schooners. 

Commandant Rodriguez, an energetic man and excellent sailor, had been 
chosen to keep supplies from the Texas rebels; for two months he had been 
cruising off the coast of Texas, where he had established a rigorous blockade, 
and owing to his intelligent arrangements, he had managed, up to the period 
we have arrived at, to stop or turn back all ve‘=sels sent from the United States 
to the help of the insurgents. The latter, reduced to their own resources, and 
understanding that the decisive hour would soon strike for them, had resolved 
to get rid of this corvette at all risks. 

The chiefs of the insurgents had formed their plans to this effect. During 
Commandant Rodriguez’s rare visits to Galveston, he was adroitly surrounded 
by persons who ostensibly professed a deep hatred for the revolution, while in 
secret they were the active and devoted agents of the insurgent chiefs. Almost 
involuntarily the commandant had been induced to invite several persons to 
visit his corvette, and breakfast on board ; but the old sailor was a true Mexican, 
that is to say, accustomed to all the tricks and treachery of a country where 
revolutions have been counted by hundreds during the twenty years since it pro- 
claimed its so-called independence, and his prudence did not fail him under the 
circumstances. Being not at all anxious to run the risk of seeing his ship 
boarded, he left the roads, and anchored in a solitary creek, in order to have his 
elbows at liberty ; and then, instead of inviting many persons at the same time, 
he merely requested Dona Mencia, her father, and two of her cousins, officers in 
the United States’ service, to pay him a visit. 

The captain frowned on seeing the number of the boat’s crew ; but, reflecting 
that he had two hundred and fifty men aboard, he did not think for a moment 
that sixteen men, apparently unarmed, would try to sei ze his ship, and it was 
with the most smiling and affectionate air that he received Dona Mencia and 
the persons who accompanied her. 

After showing them all over the corvette, he led his guests to the stern gal. 
lery, where a table had been laid, and a magnificent breakfast awaited them. 
Only five persons sat down, the supposed young lady, her pretended cousins, tha 
commandant, and his first lieutenant, an old sailor like himself, full of ex» 


At Sea. 




perience and bravery. The breakfast began in the most cordial and frank 
manner; the commandant regretted that Dona Mencia’s father had been unable 
\o accompany her, as he had promised, and a most gallant conversation went 
on. Presently a warrant officer opened the door, and, at a sign from the corn# 
mandant, whispered a few words in his ear. 

“ Senora,” the commandant said, leaning over to the young lady seated by 
his side, “ are you afraid of the sea ? ” 

“ I ?” she replied with a smile, “ why do you ask, commandant?” 

“ Because,” he answered, “unless you immediately leave my vessel, which, I 
confess, would greatly annoy me, you will be compelled to take a trip to sea fof 
some hours.” 

“I am the daughter and cousin of sailors, commandant ; that is as good as 
saying that a trip to sea would be most pleasing to me under any circum- 
stances.” 

“Very good,” the commandant said gaily; “you are a true heroine, Dona 
Mencia ; you fear nothing.” 

“ Or, at any rate, very little,” she replied. 

“ Will you permit me to ask, commandant,” said Don Serapio, “ whether you 
are starting simply to afford us the pleasure of a trip, or whether a more serious 
motive obliges you to leave your anchorage ? ” 

“ I have no secrets from you,” he said, “ and for about a fortnight I have been 
playing a game of chess with a brig, whose appearance is most suspicious. Its 
rig lead us to believe that it is a North American privateer, trying to land arms 
and men for the insurgents.” 

“ Do you imagine,” Don Cristoval objected, “that a privateer brig, knowing 
you to be in these parts, would venture to force a passage ? ” 

“ Yes, I do. These privateers are afraid of nothing ; and, besides, during the 
war of independence, I myself carried out more daring adventures than this.” 

“ Then we are about to witness a sea-fight ?” Dona Mencia asked timidly. 

“ Oh, do not feel alarmed, senorita ; it will not go so far as that, I hope ; this 
brig, which I had lost out of sight for two days, has just reappeared, but this 
time with the apparent object of getting close enough to land to send a boat 
ashore, I will chase it vigorously, and do not doubt I shall compel it to put out 
to sea again.” 

“ Really, that is delightful ! ” Dona Mencia exclaimed ; “ the f^te will be com- 
plete ; a trip to sea, a chase, and, perhaps, the capture of a vessel. You ara 
Idnd.” 

While the conversation became more and more friendly and lively in tha 
State cabin, the corvette had started, and, with all sail set, was pursuing Captain 
Johnson's brig. 

“ Halloh I ” Don Cristoval suddenly asked, “ what has become of out 
boat ? ” 

“ It was left fastened to a buoy,” the commandant said; “ we will pick it up 
gain when we return to our anchorage.” 

“Well,” Don Serapio remarked laughingly, “if the privateer should feci in- 
clined to fight, our sixteen men are quite at your disposal.” 

“ I thank you, but do not think I shall require their assistance.” 

“ Who knows? no one can foresee events. Our sailors are brave, and, if it 
should come to fighting, be assured they will do their share,” 

Only one of the guests had remained silent during the breakfast, contenting 
himself with eating and drinking, while attentively listening. This guest was 
the lieutenant. So soon as the ship had started, he left the table, bowed to the 
company, and ‘went on deck. 


The Freehooters. 


io6 


“ Your lieutenant is no talker, commandant,” Dona Mencia observed; ** 
only opened his lips to eat and drink.” 

“ That is true, senorita; but pruy excuse him, he is an old sailor, but little 
accustomed to society.” 

At this moment a loud detonation made the vessel quiver. “Ah!” said Dona 
Mencia with a cry of terror, “ what does that mean?” 

“ Less than nothing, senorita; we have merely hoisted our flag, and fired a 
blank shot, to oblige the brig to show her colours.” 

“ Would there be any danger in going on deck?” Dona Mencia asked with 
curiosity. 

“ Not the least.” 

“ In that case, with your permission, we will go up and see what is happen- 
ing.” 

“ \ am at your orders, senorita.” 

The breakfast was over; they left the table and went up on the quarter-deck. 
At about a gun-shot and a half distant, the brig could be seen, from whose peak 
haughtily floated a large American flag. 

“ I suspected it,” said the commandant. **It is a privateer, and has hoisted 
American colours to deceive us.” 

“ Do you think, then, that ship is not American?” Don Serapio asked. 

** No more than you are; it is an Argentine or Brazilian privateer.” 

* Still, it appears American built.” 

“ That proves nothing ; our ships, bought in different countries, have nothing 
that causes them to be recognised, for we have no docks.” 

“ That is true; but look, she is going to tack.” 

Yes, the sails are beginning to shiver.” 

The Mexicans fancied themselves so secure from an attack, that most of the 
ciew had left their quarters to follow the manoeuvies of the brig; the sailors, 
perched on the yards, or leaning out of the ports, were curiously looking on, 
without dreaming of the danger such a breach of discipline might entail. In the 
meanwhile the brig came round, as Don Serapio had said. Suddenly, at the 
moment when it completed the manoeuvre, a detonation was heard, a shrill 
whistle cut through the air, and the corvette’s bowsprit, pierced by a ball, fell 
into the sea, dragging with it the foremast. 

This produced extraordinary confusion on board the corvette; the terrified 
sailors ran about in all directions, listening to nothing. At length the com- 
mandant succeeded in overcoming the tumult; the crew recognised his voice, 
and at the order to fire, fifteen guns thundered at once in reply to the aggression 
of the privateer. 


CHAPTER XX. 

THE PRIZE. 

The damage sustained by the corvette was serious; the bowsprit is the key ol 
the ship’s rigging ; its loss entailed that of the foremast, which the main-topmast, 
no longer staged, speedily followed. The utmost disorder prevailed on board, as 
nearly always under such circumstances. 

The deck was encumbered with fragments of every description, yards, spars, 
sails, st^nsaii-boom.s, and entangled rigging, in the midst of which the sailors 


The Prize, 


ion 


ran about distractedly, abandoning their posts, deaf to the exhortations equally 
with the menaces of their officers, and having only one thought ; to escape from 
the death they believed suspended over their heads. 

A fresh incident occurred suddenly, which rendered the situation of the ship, 
if possible, more critical and desperate. Commandant Rodriguez had not left 
the quarter-deck; motionless at his post during the events we have described, 
he had continued to give his orders in a firm voice, apparently not noticing the 
symptoms of insubordination which, since the catastrophe had happened, were 
manifest amongst the crew. With pale face, frowning brow, and clenched teeth, 
the old sailor mechanically played with the hilt of his sword, taking every now 
and then a cold and resolute glance around him, while exerting his officers to 
Iredouble their efforts to do their duty bravely. 

Dona Mencia and the two supposititious, officers of the American navy were 
standing silent and attentive by his side, probably awaiting the moment for ac- 
tion. At the tumult which suddenly broke out on the forecastle, they all three 
started and drew nearer to the commandant. When the brig had so skilfully 
carried away the bowsprit of the Libertad^ Ramirez and his sailors were the first 
to sow and propagate terror among the crew by uttering cries of terror, and 
running in all directions. Their example was promptly followed. Then they 
changed their tactics, and began openly accusing the commandant, by asserting 
that he was a traitor, who wished to ruin them, and surrender the corvette to 
the insurgents. 

There is nothing, however stupid it may be, a thinker has said, which people 
may not be led to believe by a certain mode of treating them. This remark is 
strictly true, and this time again received perfect application. The sailors of 
the Libertad forgot in an instant all they owed to the commandant, whose 
constant solicitude watched over them with paternal care, for they were urged 
on and excited by the perfidious insinuations of Ramirez and his comrades, and 
rushed tumultuously toward the quarter-deck, uttering menaces and cries of 
revolt. 

The officers, justly alarmed, and not knowing what means to employ to bring 
these men back to their duty, collected round their commandant, resolved to 
save themselves or perish with him. The old sailor was still apparently just 
as calm and stoical ; nothing revealed on his stern face the agony that secretly 
crushed his heart. With his arms folded on his chest, his head erect, and a 
steady glance, he awaited the mutineers. 

The latter soon invaded the after-part of the vessel ; but, after passing the 
mainmast, they stopped, through a remnant of that respect which is innate in 
sailors for their superiors. 

On reaching the foot of the mainmast, then, the mutineers hesitated, for they 
no longer felt on their own ground, and at length stopped : for the mere fact of 
f^beir invading this part of the deck constituted a grave infraction of naval 
discipline. We have said that they stopped ; but they were like an angry sea 
which breaks against the foot of a dyke it cannot dash over ; that is to say, 
yelling and gesticulating furiously, but yet without going an inch further. At 
the same time, however, they did not fall back. 

There was a momentary truce between the two parties, who, like practised 
duellists, had tried to discover their adversary’s vulnerable point before crossing 
swords. A deep silence prevailed on the deck of this ship, where so many 
passions were fermenting in these hearts of bronze; no other sound was audible 
save the hollow and monotonous moaning of the sea, as it broke against the 
sides of the corvette, and the indistinct sound of weapons clutched by eager 
hands. wo 


The Freehoofers, 


io8 


This hesitation had something sinister and startling about it, and Jie com* 
mandant resolved to put an end to it at all hazards. He understood that he 
was the only person who could make an appeal to these misguided men, who 
might possibly not remain dumb to the voice of duty speaking through the lips 
of a man whose noble character they had enjoyed many opportunities of appre- 
ciating, and whom they had been so long accustomed to respect and love. 

Commandant Rodriguez looked slowly and sadly, but yet firmly, round him, 
and extending his arm in the direction of the brig, said, in a loud and marked 
voice — 

“ My men, here comes the enemy. We have our revenge to take upon him ; 
then why are you not at your quarters? What do you want of me ? Are you 
afraid that I shall fail you when the hour for fighting arrives ? ” 

At this direct appeal a strange quiver ran along the ranks of the mutineers ; 
some of them were even going to reply, when a voice was heard from the rear : 
“ Who tells you that we regard that vessel as an enemy ? ” 

Immediately hurrahs and shouts of joy, mingled with oaths and hisses, burst 
forth on all sides. 

“ The man who dares to speak so,” the commandant shouted, “ is a traitor 
and a coward. He does not form part of my ship’s crew.” 

An indescribable tumult then broke out. The sailors, forgetting all respect 
and discipline, rushed toward the quarter-deck with frightful yells and vocife- 
rations. The commandant, not at all disconcerted by this hostile manifestation, 
seized a pistol, which a faithful sailor handed him, coolly cocked it, and 
addressing the mutineers, said : “ Take care. The first who advances one step 
further I will blow out his brains.” 

Some men are gifted with so great a magnetic power, and their influence over 
the lower classes is so real, that the two to three hundred mutineers, at the 
sight of this man, who alone withstood and threatened them with a pistol, hesi- 
tated, and finally stopped, with a vague movement of alarm. It was evident 
that this pistol was little to be feared, even under the hypothesis that the 
commandant carried out his threat, since it would only kill or wound one man ; 
still, we repeat, all these men stopped, surprised, perhaps terrified. A smile 
played round the commandant’s lips ; he understood that these rough and re- 
bellious natures had been subdued. 

“ Every man to his quarters,” he said ; “ the topmen will get the ship clear 
while the carpenters rig up a jury bowsprit.” 

And leaving the quarter-deck, the commandant advanced resolutely toward 
the mutineers. The latter fell back as he advanced, without speaking or gesti- 
culating, but only opposing that final resistance, the most dangerous of all, the 
force of inertia. It was all over with the mutiny. 

We have said that Dona Mencia and her two companions attentively fol- 
lowed the incidents of this scene, in readiness to interfere when the moment 
arrived. Commandant Rodriguez had scarcely left the quarterdeck ere the 
young woman, or young man, whichever it may please the reader to call this 
mysterious being, rushed forward, and seizing a telescope, fixed it on the brig, 
as if to feel certain of the privateer’s position, and be assured of support if 
required. The brig was now only two cables’ lengths from the corvette, and 
within a few minutes would be within hail. 

Then Dona Mencia, throwing off her feminine character, hurriedly tore off 
her dress, removed her bonnet, and appeared in the masculine attire El Alferez 
had worn at the pulqueria. This transformation had been so rapid that the 
officers and crew had not recovered from the astonishment this strange meta- 
morphosis caused them, when the young man, drawing a pistol from his belt. 


The Prize, 


109 


cocked and pointed it at a number of cartridges the boys had brought on deck 
when the captain beat to quarters, and which they had left lying pell-mell at 
the foot of the mizenmast during the disorder that followed the fall of the 
spars. 

“ Surrender ! ” El Alferez shouted in a thundering voice ■ “ surrender, or you 
are dead men I ” 

Don Cristoval and Don Serapio were standing on the right and left of the 
young man, holding a pistol in either hand, Ramirez, for his part, had lost no 
time ; by his care two of the bow carronades had been dragged from their ports 
and trailed on the stern, and two sailors, match in hand, were standing motion- 
less by them, only awaiting the signal to fire. Ramirez .and the fourteen men 
left him were aiming at the Mexican sailors. The crew was taken between two 
fires. 

The events had occurred with such rapidity, this coup-de-main, prepared 
long beforehand, had been carried out with such coolness and skill, and all had 
been so thoroughly foreseen, that the commandant^ after taking a despairing 
glance along the deck, was obliged to allow that ilie had only one chance of 
escape — laying down his arms. 

“ We are not pirates,” El Alferez said, ** Commandant Rodriguez, we are 
Texans ; you can lay down your arms without shame — not to save your life, to 
which the defeat you have just suffered causes yoju to attach but slight value, 
and which you would doubtless readily sacrifice to^ expiate your misfortunes — 
but you are responsible before Heaven for the two Ijundred and fifty men forming 
your crew. Why needlessly shed precious blood 1' For the last time I invite 
you to surrender.” , 

At this moment a thick shadow covered the deck of the corvette ; the brig, 
which every one had forgotten, had continued to advance ; it had come within 
pistol-shot, and its lofty sails stretched out ovtr the vessel and intercepted the 
sunshine. 

“ Halloh the ship I ” a voice shouted from the stern of the cruiser; “send a 
boat aboard us with your captain.” 

This voice sounded like a thunder-clap in the ears of the Mexicans. There 
was a moment of intense silence, during whict.* all eyes were instinctively turned 
on the privateer ; her yards were lined with . topmen armed with muskets and 
hand-grenades, through the open ports the inen could be seen standing by the 
guns, and it literally held the corvette under its fire. 

“ Well,” El Alferez continued, stamping h>3 foot impatiently, “ have you made 
up your mind; yes or no ? ” 'j 

“ Sir,” the commandant answered, “ b\/ an infamous act of treachery you 
have become master of my vessel ; as ai.y resistance is henceforth useless, I 
surrender.” 

And with a gesture full of dignity the old sailor drew his sword, snapped the 
blade asunder, and after throwing the pif/Ces into the sea, retired to the stern. 

“Captain Johnson,” El Alferez shou);ed, “your corvette is ours; send a 
boat’s crew on board.” 4 

A whistle was heard from the brig’s )ieck ; a boat was let down, and a few 
minutes after, twenty privateer’s men, ^fmed to the teeth, and commanded by 
the captain in person, stepped on the corvette’s deck. The disarmament of the 
crew was effected without the slightest^ resistance, and Commandant Rodriguez 
and his staff were at once transferred to the brig, in order that the Mexican 
sailors, who were much more numerou^ than their visitors, might be without a 
leader in the event of their attempting 'to regain possession of the corvette by a 
desperate effort. But most of them were natives of Texas, who found among 


no 


The Freelooters, 


the sailors of the brig many of their old friends and acquaintances ; in a few 
moments the tjyo crews were on the most cordial terms. 

Captain JohnsOii resolved to profit by this fortunate circumstance; the 
privateer was in a' very difficult position, and literally experienced at this 
moment an embarra&sment of wealth ; he had, without striking a blow, captured 
a first-class corvette, but that corvette required a crew, and the sailors he could 
dispose of by taking them from his own ship to put them aboard the prize were 
insufficient; the good understanding that had almost suddenly sprung up 
between the two crews, therefore, supplied him with the means of escape from 
the difficulty. t 

Captain Johnson was; too old a hand not to know how he should act under 
the present circumstanv^es. So soon as the disarmament was effected he 
mounted the quarterdeck, took up the speaking-trumpet, and making no dis- 
tinction among the sailolts scattered about the deck, he ordered a series of 
manoeuvres, intended to habituate the men to the sound of his voice, and prove 
to them that he was a thor<j‘)ugh sailor, which all recognised in a few minutes. 

The orders were then exe'cuted with such rapidity and eagerness that the cor- 
vette, almost unserviceable ^n hour previously, was soon under jury masts, and 
in a condition to sail for an^ port to which it pleased its new commander to 
take it. The deck had been riompletely cleared, the running rigging cut during 
the action spliced — in short, sm hour before sunset any stranger whom accident 
brought aboard the Libertad could have formed no idea of what had really taken 
place. 

When he had obtained this result. Captain Johnson smiled, and ordered Master 
Lovel, who had followed him* on board, to pipe all hands on deck. At this 
familiar signal the sailors, who were now quite submissive, gaily ranged them- 
selves at the foot of the mainmasft, and waited patiently for their new captain’s 
orders. The latter knew how to t.ddress rude fellows like these ; after compli- 
menting them on the intelligent way in which they had comprehended his 
orders, he told them that he had no intention of keeping them prisoners, for 
the majority of them were Texar s like himself, and as such had a claim to his 
entire sympathy. Consequently,'' those sailors who did not wish to serve the 
Texan Republic would be landed’ at the first place on Mexican territory the 
corvette touched at ; as for those who consented to remain aboard and servo 
their country, their pay would be raised to twenty-five piastres a month, and in 
order to prove to them the good intentions of the Texan government towards 
them, a month’s pay would be distributed on the spot in the shape of bounty. 

This proposition was greeted with shouts of joy by those men who began at 
once to calculate how many glasses d' tafia and measures of pulque they could 
consume for this fabulous sum of twe>ity-five dollars. 

The captain saw the effect he had produced, and continued in the midst of 
a religious silence — 

“ Then, that is settled, my men. YdjVi are free not to remain on board, where 
I have no desire to retain you as prisonWs. Still, reflect on the propositions I 
make you, in the name of the governnipnt I have the honour of serving, for I 
consider them in every way advantageous for you. Now, let those who wish to 
enter on board the corvette pass to larboard, while those who wish to be put 
ashore can remain where they are. Thfe purser will draw up the agreement, 
and pay the bounty at once.” \ 

The captain had installed the purser <at the foot of the mizen-mast, with a 
table before him, and bags of dollars a( his feet. This display met with the 
greatest success; nothing more was waipting, and the sight of the piastres 
decided even the most irresolute, 


The Preparatton, 


IVt 


Tbe enlistment lasted two hours. All the sailors entered — all now joyously 
clinked in their horny hands the handsome piastres they had received ; and 
assuredly, if a Mexican ship hnd come up at the moment, the new crew would 
have gflven it a rude reception. The result obtained by Captain Johnson was easy 
10 foresee ; in every sailor there is something of the privateer, and ready money is 
the only available argument with him. 

The various events we have described, and the incidents that followed them, 
fcad occupied a considerable period ; the whole day had slipped away, and the 
organisation was not completed till an hour before sunset. Captain Johnson 
gave the command of the corvette to Don Serapio, with Don Cristoval as first 
lieutenant, and Ramirez as master ; while he himself retained the command of 
the brig. Then, when all was in order, the captain had the Mexican flag 
hoisted at the peak of the corvette, which immediately started for Galveston. 

The captain returned on board his own vessel, taking with him El Alferez, 
to whose determination and coolness the Texan revolutionary government 
owed the possession of a naval force. The result was grand, and surpassed 
even the expectations of the insurgents. But that was not enough ; on getting 
aboard his brig, the captain ordered the Texan flag to be struck, turned upside 
down, and hoisted again with the Mexican colours above it. The brig set sail 
and kept up with the corvette, being careful to keep under her guns, as if really 
captured by her. 

The sailors did not at all comprehend this singular manoeuvre ; but, as they 
had seen the captain laugh, they suspected some stratagem, and, in spite of the 
shame they felt at seeing their colours beneath those of Mexico, they repressed 
their murmurs, in the hope of a speedy revenge. 

In the meanwhile, the whole population of Galveston had since morning been 
plunged in the greatest anxiety. Assembled on the jetty, they had watched the 
obstinate pursuit until the vessels disappeared ; the sound of cannon, repeated 
by the echo of the cliffs, had reached the city ; a fight had, therefore, taken 
place, but what the result was everybody asked the other, and no one could 
answer. 

The silence of the fort had also seemed inexplicable ; they could not under- 
stand why it had not sunk the brig as it passed. Suddenly there was an out- 
burst of shouts and cheers, for the brig and corvette re-appeared at the entrance of 
the passage, with the Mexican colours proudly flying on the two ships over the 
Texan flag, which was disgracefully reversed. This delight knew no bounds 
when the ships were seen to anchor beneath the guns of the battery ; the 
Mexicans were victors, and the Texan insurgents had suffered a defeat, from 
which they would not so easily recover. 


CHAPTER XXI. 

THE PREPARATION. 

V^E will now return to the Jaguar, whom we left departing from thepulquerli 
and proceeding at the head of his bold companions toward the fort of the 
Point which he had resolved to carry by surprise. The task, if not impossible, 
was at the least very difficult, and it needed all the audacious rashness of thO 
young chief merely to conceive the thought of undertaking it. 


irft 


The Freelooters, 


The night was dark ; Jieavy clouds laden with electricity coursed across th© 
sky, and by intercepting the moonbeams rendered the gloom denser still. The 
conspirators passed silently through the deserted streets of the town like z 
legion of phantoms. They went on thus for a long time, with watchful eye and 
finger on the rifle trigger, ready to fire at the slightest suspicious sound ; but 
nothing disturbed their march to the sea-shore, which they reached after making 
a thousand windings, in order to foil the spies who might have attempted to 
follow them in the darkness. The spot where they were was a small sandy 
creek. Here, at a word from the Jaguar, they halted, for the difficulties of the 
expedition were about to begin. The young chief assembled his comrades 
round him, and said — 

The Fort of the Point is impregnable, or, at least, passes as such j I have 
resolved to deprive it of the haughty boast, and for that purpose have counted 
on you, comrades. Owing to the opinion the Mexicans have of the strength of 
this citadel, they have considered it unnecessary to keep up a numerous garrison 
there, convinced as they are that its position will defend it, and that it is 
impossible to carry it, save by treachery. The garrison, therefore, is only 
composed of thirty soldiers, commanded by a lieutenant ; it is small, and yet 
enormous ; small, if we force them into a hand-to-hand fight ; enormous, if we 
are compelled to remain at a distance. On the land side, the rock on which 
the fort is built is so perpendicular, that we could not hope to ascend beyond 
one half of it ; for, excepting the path cut in the rock, which is defended at 
regular distances by barricades, escalading is impracticable. We cannot, there- 
fore, think of attacking it on that side. But the sea is left to us, if the land 
fails us ; if we can succeed in landing on the narrow strip of earth which is left 
uncovered at low water for about an hour at the foot of the fortress, it is pro- 
bable that we shall succeed in our enterprise; for it will never occur to the 
garrison that any attempt to attack them by sea will be made on such a night 
as this. That is not all — we must reach that strip of land, and speedily too ; 
the sea is beginning to ebb, and the moment is favourable. This is what I 
propose doing.” 

The conspirators collected round their chief paid the most earnest attention 
to his words. It was for them a question of life or death. 

“ Now, my companions,” the Jaguar continued, “ we have no boat in which 
to reach the base of the fort ; the sound of oars would give the alarm, excite 
the suspicion of the garrison, and reveal our presence ; we must, therefore, cross 
by swimming ; biit it is nearly a league to go ; the tide runs out fast, and we 
shall have to cross it at right-angles ; moreover, the night is dark, and the sea 
rough. I will only remind you of the sharks we run a risk of meeting on the 
way. You see, comrades, that it is a rude affair, and it is certain that we shall 
not all reach the sand strip. Some of us will remain on the road ; but what 
matter, so long as we succeed? You are brave men, so I have preferred to 
speak openly with you. 

“ Now,” the Jaguar continued, “ it is time to get ready. Listen to me. We 
are about to attempt a surprise, and must fherefore act accordingly. Let us 
leave here our fire-arms, which would not only be useless, but might pro\e 
dangerous, if a shot were fired imprudently and revealed our presence ; hence 
each will undress, only keeping on his trousers, and carrying his dagger between 
nis teeth ; that will be sufficient, as further clothing would only embarrass us in 
our long swim.” 

“ Take your daggers between your teeth,” he ordered. Heaven protect us« 
Forward, brothers, and long live liberty ! ” 

*• Long live liberty I ” the conspirators shouted, as they dashed into tne sea* 


CHAPTER XXII. 

THE SURPRISE. 

'f'.Mirv swam on without a cry, moan, or sigh. At the head of the gloomy llise 
formed by the energetic heads of the conspirators, the Jaguar progressed alone. 

Three-quarters of an hour passed, during which all the strength and courage 
the human will possesses were expended in this struggle of giants by these men, 
whom nothing could quell. Not one had broken down ; the line was still com- 
pact, and they advanced with the same vigour. Before them, at about a musket- 
shot distance, was the fortress they were approaching. 

At length, after superhuman efforts, they succeeded in cutting through the 
current that dashed with extreme rapidity and strength into the straits. The 
hardest work was over ; from this moment they needed only to let themselves? 
drift gently ashore. . So soon as the Jaguar had reached land, his first care was to 
count his comrades; nine were missing. These had died without venting a cry or coni- 
plauit ; whe fatigue crushed tt)em, they had sunk sooner than claim assistance. 

'i he conspirators were at the very foot of the rock, at the top of which the 
fort was built. It was a great step made, but it was as nothing so long as the 
rock was not escaladed. But how to attempt that feat on a dark night and with 
a nor’-wester, which every moment blew with greater force, and threatened to 
hurl to destruction the man who was so rash as to attempt such an ascent ! 

'I’he persons who have read the early scenes of this story will doubtless re- 
member the portrait we drew of the Jaguar. Although still very young, or at 
least appearing so, he joined exceptional strength to marvellous agility and 
skill ; his adventurous character found delight in extraordinary things, and im- 
possibilities alone offered any attraction to him. After reflecting for a few 
moments, he advised his comrades to lie down at the foot of the rock, lest they 
should be blown away by the nor’-wester, which was raging at the moment, passed 
two daggers through his belt, and began examining with the most scrupulous 
attention the rock he wished to attack. 

He found that which at a distance seemed to form an almost perpendicular 
wall was hollowed out at several points, and fissures had been opened by time 
— that great demolisher, which wears away the hardest granite. Though the 
ascent was still extremely difficult, it was not impossible. 

“ It is all right, brothers,” said the Jaguar, “so take courage; now, I enter* 
tain firm hopes of success.” 

And he prepared to mount. Lanzi followed him. 

“ Where are you going ? ” the Jaguar asked him. 

“ With you,” the half-breed answered, laconically, 

“ For what good ? one man is sufficient.” 

“ Yes,” he answered ; “ but two are better.” 

“ Well, come on, then.” And then, turning to his attentive comrades, he 
added, “ So soon as the rope falls, cling on to it without fear.” 

“ Yes,” the conspirators said. 

The Jaguar then planted his dagger in a crevice above his head, and with 
the help of his hands and feet, raised himself sufficiently to thrust in a second 
dagger above the first. The first step was taken ; from dagger to dagger the 
Jaguar reached, in a few minutes, a species of platform about two square 
yards in area, where it was possible to draw breath, Lanzi arrived almost 
ttith him. 


The Freebooters, 


tld. 


“ Hilloa ! ” he said, with that magnificent coolness which never deserted him- 

what’s this?” 

“ Wh)% it is a grotto. Viva Dios ! ” the Jaguar exclaimed a moment later, 

“ It looks to me very like one,” said the half-breed, with his old coolness. 

Per Dios ! whatever this cave may be, and no matter where it ends, it is 
certain that it will, at any rate, offer us an excellent shelter. Supposing, at any 
rate, as is possible, that we cannot succeed in effecting the ascent of the rock 
tiis night, we will hide ourselves here during to-morrow, and be ready to finish 
on the following night what we shall not have time to effect during the present 
one.” 

“That is an excellent idea,” the Jaguar remarked, “and we will immediately 
carry it into effect.” 

The young man unfastened the rope round his hips, and after securely 
attaching one end round a point of rock, and a stone to the other end, that the 
wind might not blow it away, he let it fall. In a few minutes the rope stiffened 
— the conspirators watching on the beach had seized it. Ere long a man made 
his appearance, then a second, and so on till all reached the platform. As they 
arrived, Lanzi sent them into the grotto. 

“And John Davis ?” the Jaguar asked. 

“He has slipped, and injured his shoulder.” 

“ Have you abandoned him ? ” 

“ Certainly not,” the cool conspirator said. “ Upon leaving I was careful to 
put the rope several times round his body, in spite of his objections. I only 
succeeded in overcoming his obstinacy by persuading him that the weight of his 
body would keep the rope taut.” 

“ Thank you,” said the Jaguar. “ Now, lads, to work t we must not abandon 
our brother.” 

At the chief’s order, eight or ten men seized the rope, and the American was 
soon hoisted to the platform. 

“ What is the use of taking so much trouble about me ? ” he said. “ I can be 
of no service to you ; on the contrary, I shall only be in the \*^v, and impede 
ycur operations.” 

The Jaguar made no answer, but had him conveyed into the grotto, where 
he was laid down on the ground. The young chief then coliacted his comrades, 
and explained to them how, by a providential accident, Lanzi had discovered 
the entrance of the grotto. Still it had not yet been explored, and it was of 
urgency to find out in what direction it ran. So, striking a light, the young man 
shouted, “ Follow me.” 

All rushed after the Jaguar. The cave took several windings, but, contrary to 
what is generally found in most natural grottos, it did not appear to have 
any other arteries save the one in which the conspirators found themselves. 

The latter went on, following their leader step by step. The deeper they 
grd into the cavern, the ruder became the ascent. The Jaguar advanced with 
extreme caution and doubt, for it seemed to him impossible that this passage 
should be unknown to the commandant of the garrison. 

He soon obtained a proof that his surmises were correct, for after marching 
for a few minutes longer, the conspirators were arrested by an iron-bound door, 
which barred their way. At a sign from the Jaguar, they remained motionless, 
with their hands on their dagger-hilts. The moment for action had arrived. 

The Jaguar examined the lock for an instant, and then ordered the lights to 
be put out, which was immediately obeyed, and the conspirators were again in 
darkness. This door, which was very old, and probably had not been opened 
for a series of years, could not offer any serious resistance. The young chieftain 


El Salto del Frayle, 


*‘5 


thrust the point of his dagger between the bolt and the staple, and pressed on 
it. The staple fell to the ground, and the door swung open. 

It was now about half-past four in the morning, and day was beginning to 
break. At the end of the passage the Jaguar perceived a motionless shadow 
leaning against the wall. At an order from his chief, the half-breed glided like 
a serpent up to this shadow, which was nothing less than a sentry, who was 
quietly asleep, with his musket by his side, and on coming within reach, the 
half-breed bounded like a tiger at the throat of the sleeper, whom he threw 
down without giving him time to utter a cry. The poor fellow was bound and 
gagged ere he was awake ; but the noise, slight as it was, had roused the guard- 
room. The conspirators, however, had partly armed themselves. 

“ Fire,” the Jaguar thundered, “ and then forward ! ” 

Ten muskets were discharged, three officers fell, and the Texans rushed 
ferociously on the soldiers. The latter, terrified at the attack, and seeing their 
leaders dead, offered but a weak resistance ; after a few minutes of hand-to-hand 
fighting, sustained rather to save their military honour than in hope of conquering 
the assailants, they asked leave to capitulate. 


CHAPTER XXIII. 

BL SALTO DEL FRAYLB. 

The Jaguar’s first care, so soon as he was in possession of the fortress, was to 
have John Davis installed in a comfortable and airy room ; then he sent several 
men to the creek whence the expedition had started, to fetch the clothes and 
anything the conspirators had left there. 

During the works necessitated by the occupation and an exact inspection 
of the important fortress the Texans had succeeded in seizing, day had broke, 
and the sun risen. The Jaguar, after taking all the necessary precautions to 
prevent himself being surprised in his turn, took a telescope, and went up to the 
platform of the castle. From this point the eye surveyed an immense landscape, 
and a magnificent panorama was unrolled. 

“ Lanzi ! ” the Jaguar suddenly said, as he hurried to him. 

Well 1 ” he answered, raising his head. 

“ Fetch me the Mexican flag we found in the commandant's room, and hoist it on 
that staff; but, in order that our comrades may not mistake our meaning, mind and 
fasten a dagger to the top of the flag. The inhabitants of Galveston will not notice 
this addition, while our friends will immediately understand what it signifies.” 

Lanzi punctually carried out the order given him, and five minutes later the 
Mexican banner, surmounted by a dagger, was majestically floating from the 
flag-staff. The Jaguar soon obtained the certainty that his signal was under- 
stood, for the brig, closely pursued by the corvette, waited till it had come 
within pistol-shot of the fort el*e it tacked, which it assuredly would not have 
done had there been any cause for fear. 

During the greater part of the day the Jaguar followed with the greatest 
interest the progress of the two ships, and witnessed the final incidents from 
his observatory. At about two in the afternoon, hov/ever, he went down into 
the interior CFf the fort, and, after recommending the greatest vigilance to his 


The Freebooters, 


jj6 


friends, he armed himself, threw a zarape over his shoulders, and quitted the 
castle. The Jaguar was proceeding to the Salto del Frayle, where, on the pre- 
vious evening, he had appointed to meet Don Juan Melendez de Gongora. 

Not far from Galveston, on the sea-shore, there is a road, whose capricious 
windings follow the sandy shore. 

This road led to the spot called the Monk’s Leap, and it was here that the 
Jaguar had given the meeting to Colonel Don Juan Melendez. The sun had 
sunk almost level with the horizon when the young man reached the gap. He 
looked around him, the road was deserted, so he dismounted, hobbled his horse, 
lay down on the ground, and waited. 

He had been there about a quarter of an hour, when the sound of a horse 
galloping reached his ear ; he rose and looked round. He soon saw a horseman 
turning a corner of the road, and recognised the colonel. On reaching the Jaguar, 
he bowed and leaped to the ground. 

“ Pardon me, my friend,” he said, “ for having kept you waiting, but it is a 
long distance from Galveston to this spot; and you and your comrades give us 
so much to do that we have not an instant to ourselves.” 

“ Well, before we part, I will give you some news which, if I am not mis- 
taken, will deeply annoy you.” 

“ What do you mean, my friend ? explain yourself.” 

“ Not at this moment. Let us proceed regularly. We shall always have 
time enough to return to politics.” 

“ That is true ; but answer me one question first.” 

What is it?” 

“ Is the news you have to tell me really serious ? ” 

The Jaguar frowned and stamped his foot on the ground with suppressed 
violence. 

“ Extremely serious,” he said. 

For some minutes the colonel’s eyes had been fixed on the sea. 

“ Why,” he suddenly said, “ look there, my friend.” 

“ What is it ? ” 

“ Hang it ! I see the Libertad corvette, which has first anchored under the 
guns of the Point Fort, bringing with her a privateer brig, which she has, in all 
probability, captured off the coast.” 

“ Do you think so?” the Jaguar asked, sarcastically. 

“ Look for yourself.” 

“ My friend, I am rather like St. Thomas.” 

“ What do you mean ? ” 

That as long as I am not completely convinced, I shall attach but very slight 
faith to the testimony of my eyesight.” 

“ What can you mean ? ” asked the colonel. 

“ Nothing but what I say,” the Jaguar answered. 

** Still, I fancy I cannot be mistaken. I can see the Mexican flag over the 
reversed Texan colours.” 

“ It is true,” the Jaguar said, coldly, “ but what does that prove? ” 

“ What do you say ? — * What does that prove ?’ ” 

“Yes.” 

“ Are you so ignorant of naval matters, then, as not to know what takes place 
on board a vessel after an engagement ? ” 

“ I beg your pardon, friend, but I know all about it. But I know, too, that 
what we see may be the result of a stratagem, and that the brig, after capturing 
the corvette, may have an interest in concealing the fact.” 

“ Come, come,” the colonel said, with a laugh, “ that is carrying optimism 


El Salto del Frayle, 


117 


a little too far. Let us leave the corvette and brig, and return to our own 
affairs.” 

“ Well, I think you are in the right ; for, judging from the turn the con# 
versation has taken, we should presently be unable to understand one another 
at all.” 

The young men yielded involuntarily to the intoxicating charm of this ex# 
quisite evening; yielding to their thoughts, neither dreamed of resuming a 
conversation suddenly broken off by a bitter remark. For a long time they 
walked on thus, till they reached an angle in the road, where the track they 
were following divided into several branches. Here they halted. 

“ We must separate here, Don Juan,” the Jaguar said, “ for we probably do 
not follow the same road.” 

“That is true, friend, and I regret it,” the colonel answered, sadly, ‘‘for I 
should be so happy if I had you constantly by my side.” 

“Thanks, friend, but you know that is impossible; let us, therefore, profit by 
the few moments left us to be together. Well, what have you done ? ” 

“ Nothing, alas ! for a soldier is the slave of discipline. I have, therefore, 
been unable to obtain any information. Have you been more fortunate ? ” 

“ I can hardly say, yet; still I hope. Tranquil has this very night to give me 
certain information, which will perfect that I have myself obtained.” 

“ And is Tranquil here ?” 

“ He arrived to-day, but I have not yet been able to see him.” 

“ Then you imagine ? ” the colonel said, eagerly. 

“ This is what I have succeeded in finding out. Remark that I assert nothing; 
I am at this moment merely the echo of certain rumours.” 

“ No matter; speak, my friend, in Heaven’s name.” 

“ About six weeks ago, according to what my spies tell me, a strange man 
arrived in this country, bringing a girl with him. This man has purchased a 
rancho, of no great value, situated a few leagues from here, nearly on the sea- 
shore. He paid cash for it, shut himself up in the rancho with the girl, and 
since then no one has seen them. The man has immured himself in his pro- 
perty, to which nobody has admission ; but whether this man be the White 
Scalper, and the maiden Carmela, no one is able to state positively. Several 
times I have prowled round the abode of this mysterious being, but have not 
succeeded in seeing him : windows and doors are constantly closed, nothing is 
heard of what takes place in this strange house, which, through its isolated 
position, is, to a certain extent, protected from indiscreet visitors. This is what 
I had to tell you, perhaps to-morrow I shall have learned more.” 

“ No,” Don Juan answered, pensively, “that man cannot be the White Scalper, 
or the maiden Carmela. Only one man, in my opinion, could put you on the 
trail of her we have so unfortunately lost.” 

“ Whom do you mean ? ” 

“ Loyal Heart.” 

“ That is true. He was brought up by the Indians, and one of their tribes 
has adopted him. He would be better able than anybody to supply us with in# 
formation.” 

“ Why have you not applied to him, then P” 

“ For the very simple reason that, on the day after Ine capture of the Larch# 
tree hacienda. Loyal Heart left us to return to his tribe.” 

“ That is aifnoying,” the colonel said thoughtfully. “ I know not why, but I 
feel convinced that this hunter may prove extremely useful to us in our search 
for the unfortunate Carmela.” 

“ Perhaps you are right, colonel. This night, as I told you, I am to se« 
Trancjuil, and shall have a serious explanation with him.” 


The Freelooters. 


ii8 


“Insist, I beg, friend, on establishing a friendly connection with Loyal Heart.* 

•* 1 shall not fail ; besides, Tranquil is sure to know where to find him.” 

“ That is probable. Now, I can speak to you with open heart, my friend. 
Honour alone has hitherto kept me at my post ; I desire to recover my liberty 
and only await an honourable occasion to send in my resignation. On the da} 
when I am free, and that day is approaching, I hope, I will join you, and then 
we shall find Carmela again, even at the risk of my life.” 

The colonel uttered these words with a fire and animation which made his 
friend start involuntarily, and aroused in his heart a deep feeling of jealousy. 
Still, the Jaguar had sufficient power over himself to conceal the emotion he 
felt. 

“ May Heaven grant that it may speedily be so, my friend. What could we 
two not do ? ” 

“ Then you intend to make the expedition you told me of this night P ” the 
colonel continued. 

“ I shall be present, but another person will direct it.” 

“Tranquil is Carmela’s father, and I must yield to his wishes.” 

“ That is true. Now, when and how shall we meet again ? I have the 
greatest desire to learn what may occur to-night ; whatever be the result of the 
expedition, I trust to be informed of what you have done. Unfortunately, I fear 
it will be very difficult for us to meet.” 

“Why so?” 

“ Why, my friend, you know the truce made between you and General Rubio 
expires to-night.” 

“ I defy him to come and take me at the spot where I shall be within an 
hour, and where I shall be delighted to welcome you, if you are inclined to pay 
me a visit.” 

“ And where is this privileged spot, my friend ? ” 

“ The Fort of the Point.” 

“ What ! ” the colonel said, suddenly stopping and looking him in the face | 
“ of course you are joking.” 

Not the least in the world.” 

“What! you give me the meeting at the fort? Oh, you must be mad, my 
friend 1 ” 

“ Remember that the fort has been in my hands for the past twelve hours,” 
the Jaguar coldly interrupted him. “ I surprised it last night.” 

“ Ah ! ” the colonel exclaimed, in stupor. 

“ Did I not tell you that I had serious news to impart to you ? ” the young 
man continued ; “ would you like, now, to learn the second item ? ” 

“The second ! ” the colonel repeated, utterly astounded; “ and what can the 
second item be ?” 

“ The second item is this ; the Lihertad corvette has been boarded by the 
privateer brig, with which it anchored at sunset beneath the guns of the fort.” 

At this unexpected revelation the colonel staggered like a drunken man. 

“ Woe, woe I ” he exclaimed in a choking voice. 

“Alas I my friend,” said the Jaguar, gently, “ it is the fortune of war.” 

“ Galveston 1 ” the colonel said in despair, “ that city which the general has 
sworn never to surrender.” 

After a moment’s silence, the colonel mounted his horse. 

“ Let me go,” he said ; “ I must immediately impart these frightful news to 
the governor.” 

“ Go, my friend,” the Jaguar answered ; “ but, remember that you will find 
me at the Fort of the Point.” 


CHAPTER XXIV. 


THE LANDING. 

IviiBDiATELY on reaching his anchorage, Captain Johnson, after conversing fof 
a moment privately with El Alferez, gave orders that Commandant Rodrigue* 
and his officers should be brought into his presence. The commandant, despite 
the politeness with which he had been treated, and the kindness the privateer’s 
men had shown him, could not forgive them the way in which they had seized 
his vessel ; he was sad, and had hitherto only answered the questions asked him 
by disdainful silence, or insulting monosyllables. When the officers of the 
corvette were assembled in the cabin, Captain Johnson, turning politely to the 
Mexicans, said : 

“ Gentlemen, I am re^ly most sorry for what has occurred. I should be glad 
to set you at liberty immediately, but your commandant’s formal refusal to 
pledge himself not to serve against us for a year and a day obliges me, to my 
great regret, to keep you prisoners, at least temporarily. However, gentlemen, 
be assured that you will be treated as Caballeros, and everything done to alleviate 
this temporary captivity.” 

The officers, and even the commandant, bowed their thanks, and the captain 
continued : 

“ All your property has been placed in the boat I have ordered to convey you 
ashoie. If nothing retains you here, be kind enough to get ready to land.” 

“ Would it be indiscreet, captain, to ask you whither you have given orders 
to have us taken ? ” Commandant Rodriguez asked. 

“ Not at all, commandant,” the captain replied ; “ you are about to be taken 
to the Fort of the Point, whose walls will serve as your prison, until fresh 
orders.” 

“Whatl” the old sailor exclaimed in astonishment; “the Fort of the 
Point ? ” 

“ Yes,” the captain answered with a smile ; “ the fort which some of my 
friends seized, while I had the honour of boarding your fine corvette, com- 
mandant.” 

The captain could have gone on talking thus for some time : the old officer, 
confounded by what he had just heard, was incapable of connecting two ideas. 
At length, he let his head fall wearily on his chest, and making his officers a 
sign to follow him, went on deck. A boat, with a crew of ten men, was balancing 
at the starboard accommodation ladder, which the commandant, still silent, 
entered, and his staff followed his example. 

“ Push off ! ” El Alferez ordered, who was holding the yoke lines. 

The boat started and speedily disappeared. For some minutes the cadenced 
sound of the oars dipping in the water could be heard, and then all became 
silent again. The captain had watched the departure of his prisoners ; when 
the boat had disappeared in the gloom, he gave Master Lovel orders to weigh 
and stand out to sea, and then returned to his cabin, where a man was waiting 
for him. It was Tranquil, the old tigrero. 

“ Well ! ” the hunter asked. 

“ They have gone, thank Heaven ! ” the captain saRi. 

“ When shall we land ? ” 

•‘This night ; but is your information positive ?** 

•‘ I believe so.” 


55iO 


The Freebooters. 


“ Well, we shall soon know how matters stand.** 

“ May Heaven grant that we succeed ! ” 

“ Let us hope it. Do you think the coast is guarded ? ” 

I fear it, for your vessel must have been signalled all along the shore.” 

“ Do you know whether the Mexicans have other ships observing the portSf 
in addition to the corvette ? ” 

“ I think they have three more, but smaller than the LihertadJ' 

“ Hang it all ! we must act prudently, then ; however, whatever may happen, 
I will not desert so old a friend as yourself when unfortunate. We have still 
three hours before us, so try and sleep a little, for we shall have a tough job.’’ 

Tranquil smiled at this recommendation ; but to please his friend, who had 
already laid himself down in his bunk, in the position of a man preparing to 
sleep, he wrapped himself in his zarape and closed his eyes. 

The night, which at the beginning had been very bright and clear, had 
suddenly become dark and stormy; black clouds surcharged with electricity 
covered the whole of the sky ; the breeze moaned sadly in the rigging, and 
mingled with the dash of the waves against the sides of the vessel. The brig 
was sailing slowly close to the wind, the only sails it carried being double-reefed 
topsails, the fore staysail, and the spanker. 

At the moment when the helmsman struck the two double strokes on the bell, 
indicating ten o’clock. Captain Johnson and Tranquil appeared on deck. The 
captain was dressed in a thick blue pilot-coat, a leathern belt, through which 
were passed a cutlass, a pair of pistols, and an axe, was fastened round his 
waist ; a cloak was thrown over his shoulders, and a broad-brimmed felt hat 
completely concealed his features. The Canadian wore his hunter’s garb, 
though, through the dangerous nature of the affair, he had added a brace of 
pistols to his ordinary armament. 

The captain’s orders have been carried out with that minute consciousness 
which Master Lovel displayed in everything connected with duty. The board- 
ing-netting was braced up, and the running rigging secured as if for action. 
At the starboard ladder the long boat was tossing with its crew of thirty men, 
all armed to the teeth, and holding their oars aloft ready to dash into the water. 
They were, however, muffled, so as to stifle the sound of rowing, and foil the 
vigilance of the Mexicans. 

“ That is well, lads,” the captain said, “ let us be off. Mind, father,” he 
added, turning to Father Lovel, “ that you keep a good watch. If we are not 
on board again by four in the morning, stand out to sea, and do not trouble 
yourself further about us ; for it will be useless to wait for us longer, as we shall 
be prisoners of the Mexicans ; and any lengthened stay in the e waters might 
compromise the safety of the brig. Be of good cheer, though, for I have hopes 
of success.” 

And after kindly pressing the old sailor’s hand, he went down to the boat, 
seated himself in the stern sheets by the side of the hunter, took up the yoke 
lines, and said in a low voice, “ Push off! ” 

At this command the painter was c.ist off, the oars dashed together into the 
sea, and the boat started. When it had disappeared in the fog. Master Lovel 
ran at full speed to the stern of the brig, and leaned over the taffrail. “ Are 
you there?” he said. 

“ Yes,” a suppressed voice answered him. 

“ Get ready,” the master added, and then said to an old sailor, You know 
what I have to tell you, Wells ; I count on you thoroughly.” 

“ All right, master,” the sailor replied, “ you can cut your cable without fea^ 
1 will keep a look-out.” 


The Landing, 


121 


“All right; get in, men, and double-bank the oars.” 

Some forty sailors, who were well armed, like their predecessors, let them- 
selves down, one after the other, by a rope that hung over the taffrail, and got 
into a second boat, which Master Lovel had ordered to be got ready^ and of 
which he took the command. He started at once, and steered after the captain’s 
pinnace, whose direction he was pretty well acquainted with, saying every now 
and then to the rowers, in order to increase their speed, “ Give way, my lads, 
give way, all ! ” and he added, as he chewed his enormous quid, with a cunning 
smile, “ It was very likely I should let my old fellow have his face scored by 
those brigands of Mexicans, who are all as crafty as caimans.” 

So soon as he had left the ship, the captain, leaving on his right hand a small 
fishing-village, whose lights he saw flashing through the darkness, steered for a 
jutting-out point, where he probably hoped to disembark in safety. After row- 
ing for about three-quarters of an hour, a black line began to be vaguely 
designed on the horizon in front of the boat. The captain gave his men a sign 
to rest on their oars for a moment, and taking up a long night-glass, he carefully 
examined the coast. In two or three minutes he shut up the glass again, and 
ordered his men to give way. 

All at once the keel of the pinnace grated on the sand : they had reached 
land. After hurriedly exploring the neighbourhood, the crew leaped ashore, 
leaving only one man as boat-keeper, who at once pushed off. The captain 
having assured himself that, for the present at any rate, he had nothing to fear, 
concealed his men behind some rocks, and then addressed Tranquil. 

“ It is now your turn, old hunter,” he said. 

“ Good ! ” the latter replied, not adding another word. 

He left his hiding-place, and walked forward, with a pistol in one hand and a 
tomahawk in the other, stopping at intervals to look around him. On getting 
about one hundred yards from the spot where the landing was effected, the 
hunter stopped, and began gently whistling the first bars of a Canadian air. 
Another whistle answered his, and finished the tune he had purposely broken 
off. Footsteps were heard, and a man showed himself. It was Quoniam the 
negrOc 

“ Here I am,” he said. “ Where are your men ? ” 

“ Hidden behind the rocks close by.” 

“ Call them up, for we have not a moment to lose.” 

Tranquil clapped his hands twice, and a moment later the captain and his 
men had rejoined him. 

“Where is the person we have come to deliver concealed?” the captain 
asked. 

“ At a rancho about two miles from here. I will lead you to it.” 

There was a moment’s silence, during which the captain studied the negroes 
noble face, his black flashing eye, which glistened with boldness and honour ; 
and he asked himself whether such a man could be a traitor? Quoniam seemed 
to read his thoughts, for he said to him, as he laid his hand on the Canadian’s 
shoulder — 

“ If I had intended to betray you, it would have been done ere now. Trust 
to me, captain, I owe my life to Tranquil. I almost witnessed the birth of the 
maiden you wish to save. My friendship and gratitude answer to you for my 
fidelity. Let us start.” 

And without saying anything further, he placed himself at the head of the 
band. 

While the incidents we have just described were taking place on the beech, 
two persons, male and female, seated in a room, modestly though comfortably 


J22 


The Freebooters, 


furnished, were holding a conversation, fl^hich, judging from the angry expres- 
sion of their faces, seemed to be most si ormy. These two persons were Car- 
mela and the White Scalper. 

Carmela was half reclining in a hammock ; she was pale and suffering, he* 
features were worn, and her red eyes showed that she had been weeping. 

“ Take care, Carmela ! ” he said, as he suddenly halted in front of the youn^ 
woman, “you know that I crush all who resist me. For the last time I ask you 
Will you tell me the reason of your constant refusals ? ” 

“ Come,” she continued, “ this farce wearies me, so let us bring it to a finale. 
I know you too well now, not to be aware that you would not hesitate to pro- 
ceed to odious extremities, if I would not submit to your wishes. Since you 
insist on it, I will explain my thoughts to you. You ask me if I hate you ? No, 
I do not hate you, I despise you 1 ” 

Silence, wretched girl ! ” 

“ Yourself ordered me to speak, and I shall not be silent till I have told you 
all. Yes, I despise you, because, instead of respecting a poor girl, whom you, 
coward as you are, carried off from her relations and friends, you torture her, 
and become her executioner. I despise you, because you are a man without a 
soul ; an old man who might be my father, and yet you do not blush to ask me 
to love you, under some wretched pretext of my resemblance with some woman 
I have no doubt you killed.” 

Carmela ! ” 

Lastly, I despise you because you are a furious brute, who only possess one 
human feeling, ‘ the love of murder ! ’ because there is nothing sacred in your 
sight, and if I were weak enough to consent to your wishes, you would make me 
die of despair, by taking a delight in breaking my heart.” 

“ Take care, Carmela ! ” he exclaimed furiously. 

“ I defy you, coward who threaten a woman ! ” 

“ Help ! ” the White Scalper exclaimed, with a yell. 

All at once the window was noisily burst open and Tranquil entered. 

“ I think you called, senor ?” he said, as he leaped into the room. 

“ My father ! my father ! ” the poor girl shrieked, as she threw herself into his 
arms ; “ you have come at last ! ” 

The White Scalper, utterly astonished and startled by the unexpected appear- 
ance of the hunter, looked around him in alarm, and could not succeed in 
regaining his coolness. The Canndian, after lovingly replying to the maiden’s 
warm greeting, laid her gently on the hammock, and then turned to the White 
Scalper. 

“I ask your pardon, senor,” he said with perfect ease, “for not having 
advised you of my visit; but you are aware we are not friends, and, as it is pos- 
sible that if I had written, you would not have received me, I preferred bringing 
matters to the point.” 

“ One moment, senor,” the Scalper exclaimed ; “you have learned how to entef 
this house, but you do not know how to leave it.” 

And seizing two pistols lying on a table, he pointed them at the hunter, while 
shouting — “ Help ! help I ” 

Tranquil quietly raised his rifle to his shoulder. 

“ I should be delighted by your showing me the road,” he said peaceably, 

A dozen blacks and Mexicans rushed into the room. 

“ Ah, ah ! ” said the Scalper, “ I fancy I have you at last, old Tiger-killer.” 

“ Nonsense,” a mocking voice replied ; “ not yet.” 

At this moment the captain and his men dashed through the window which 
had afforded the Canadian a passage into the room, and uttered a fearful yell. 


Forward t 


123 


An indescribable medley and confusion then began: thelights were extinguished, 
and the servants, mostly unarmed, and not knowing with how many enemies 
they had to deal, fled in all directions. The Scalper was carried away by the 
stream of fugitives. The Texans took advantage of the stupor of their enemy 
to evacuate the rancho, and effect their retreat. 

“ Make haste ! make haste ! ” the captain shouted ; “ who knows whether we 
may not be crushed by superior forces in an instant ? ” 

At his orders, the sailors, taking the maiden in their midst, ran off in the 
direction of the sea-shore. In the distance, drums and bugles could be heard 
calling the people under arms, and on the horizon the black outline of a large 
body of troops hurrying up, with the evident intention of cutting off the retreat 
of the Texans, could be distinguished. Panting and exhausted, the latter still 
ran on ; they could see the coast ; a few miuutes more and they would reach 
it. All at once a band, commanded by the White Scalper, dashed upon them, 
shouting — “ Down with the Texans ! kill them ! kill them !” 

Oh, my God ! ” Carmela exclaimed, “ will you abandon us ? ” 

“ Lads,” the captain said, addressing his sailors, “ we cannot talk about con- 
quering, but we can die.” 

“ We will, captain,” the sailors answered. 

“ Father,” said Dona Carmela, “ will you let me fall alive into the hands of 
that tiger ? ” 

“ No,” said Tranquil, as he kissed her pale forehead ; “here is my dagger.’* 

“ Thanks ! ” she replied. “ Oh, now I am certain of dying free.” 

Lest they should be surrounded, the Texans leant their backs against the rock, 
and awaited with levelled bayonets the attack of the Mexicans. 

“ Surrender, dogs I ” shouted the Scalper. 

“ Nonsense 1 ” the captain answered ; “ you must be mad, senor. Do men 
like us surrender ? ” 

“ Forward ! ” the Scalper shouted. 

The Mexicans rushed on their enemies with indescribable rage. An heroic 
and gigantic struggle then began, a combat of three hundred men against 
thirty : a horrible and merciless carnage, in which none demanded quarter, while 
the Texans, certain of all falling, would not succumb till buried under a pile of 
hostile corpses. After twenty minutes, that seemed an age, only twelve Texans 
remained on their legs. The captain. Tranquil, Quoniam, and nine sailors, 
remained alone, accomplishing prodigies of valour. 

“ At last ! ” the Scalper shouted, as he dashed forward. 

“ Not yet,” Tranquil said, as he dealt a blow at him with his axe. 

The Scalper avoided the blow by leaping on one side, and replied with his 
machete; Tranquil, wounded, fell on his knee, crying, “She is lost I my God, 
she is lost 1 ” 


CHAPTER XXV. 

FORWARD I 

In the meanwhile Master Lovel made his men row vigorously, in order to 
reach land as soon as possible. But when he at last reached the shore the 
captain had landed long before. 

The old sailor had his boat tied up to the captain’s, in order that they could 
be used if required, and then advanced cautiously inland. He had not proceeded 


J24 


The Freebooters, 


many yards, however, ere a tremendous noise reached his ears, and he saw the 
sailors who accompanied the captain debouch from the hollow way in disorder, 
and closely pursued by Mexican soldiers. 

Master Lovel did not lose his head under these circumstances : instead of 
rushing into the medley, he ambushed his men behind a clump of trees that 
stood a short distance off. 

The Texans, with their back to the rock, not ten yards from the sea, were 
fighting desperately against an immense number of enemies. A minute later, 
and all would have been over, but suddenly the cry of “ Forward 1 Texas y 
Libertad I ” was raised in the rear of the Mexicans, accompanied by a tremendous 
shout, and a deadly discharge, almost at point-blank range, scattered terror and 
disorder through their ranks. It was Master Lovel effecting his diversion, in 
order to save his captain. 

The Mexicans, who already believed themselves victors, were terrified at 
this unforeseen attack, which, owing to the vigour with which it was carried out, 
Ihey supposed to be made by a considerable body of these freebooters, com- 
manded by the Jaguar, whose reputation was already immense in the ranks of 
the American army. They were finally seized with a panic terror which their 
officers could not succeed in mastering, and broke end fled in all directions, 
throwing their arms away. 

The Texans, revived by the prudential arrival of the old sailor, and excited 
by their captain’s voice, redoubled tVeir efforts. Tranquil tied a handkerchief 
round his thigh, and supported by Quoniam, who, during the action, had not 
left him for an instant, he retreated to the boats, leading Carmela, and followed 
by the captain and his brave sailors. The latter, like lions at bay, turned at 
each instant to dash with axes and bayonets at the few soldiers their officers 
had succeeded in rallying. 

Still fighting, the sailors at length reached the boats prepared for their recep- 
tion. Captain Johnson ordered the wounded to be placed in the launch, and 
getting into the other boat with Tranquil and Quoniam, and the sound men, he 
put off from the shore, towing the boat that served as an ambulance. This 
daring retreat, effected under the enemy’s fire, was carried out with admirable 
precision and skill. 

Ere long the coast disappeared in the fog, the shouts of the enemy became 
less distinct, the shots ceased, the light flashing on the shore died out, and all 
grew silent again. 

“ Are we really out of danger, father? ” the maiden asked with a shudder of 
fear. 

“ Yes, my child ; keep your spirits up,” the hunter answered, *‘we are now in 
safety.” 

At this very moment the sailors, as if wishing to confirm the Canadian’s 
assurance, or perhaps with the wish to mock the enemies they had so barely 
escaped, struck up one of those songs which serve to mark time, and the words 
of which each repeats as he lays out on his oars. Master Lovel, after turning 
and returning several times the enormous quid that swelled his right cheek, 
made a signal to the crew of the pinqace, and struck up in a rough voice a 
stanza, which all repeated in chorus after him. This song, which was as inter- 
minable as a sailor’s yarn, would, in all probability, have lasted much longer, 
if the captain had not suddenly ordered silence. 

“ Some new danger? ” Tranquil inquired anxiously. 

“ Perliaps so,” the captain replied, who had for some time been scanning the 
horizon with a frowning brow. 

“ What do you mean ? ” the hunter asked. 


Forward ! 


1*5 


** Look ! ” the captain said, extending his hand in the direction of the fishing- 
village. 

Tranquil hastily took up the night-glass: a dozen large boats, crowded witk 
soldiers, were leaving a small creek, and pulling out to sea. The water was 
lumpy, the breeze blew strongly, and the over-crowded long-boat advanced but 
slowly, as it was compelled to tow the pinnace. The peril which they fancied 
they had escaped burst out again in a different shape, and this time assumed 
really terrific proportions. 

The brig, whose tall masts were visible, was, it is true, only two cables’ length, 
at the most, from the Texan boats, but the few men left on board were not 
nearly sufficient to make the requisite manoeuvres to enable the brig to help its 
boats effectually. The position grew with each moment more critical. 

“ Lads,” said the captain, “ the ten best swimmers among you will jump into 
the sea, and go to the ship with me ” 

Captain,” the hunter exclaimed, “ what do you propose doing?” 

“ To save you,” he simply answered. 

“ Oh, oh ! ” Master Lovel said hastily, “ I will not allow such an act of 
madness.” 

“ Silence, sir,” the captain interrupted him rudely. “ I am the sole com- 
mander.” 

“ But you are wounded ! ” the master objected. In fact. Captain Johnson had 
received an axe-stroke. 

“ Silence ! I tell you. I allow no remarks.” 

The old sailor bowed his head, and wiped away a tear. After squeezing the 
hunter’s hand, the captain and his ten sailors leaped boldly into the sea, and 
disappeared in the darkness. At the news of fresh danger, Carmela had fallen, 
completely overwhelmed, in the bottom of the boat. Master Lovel, leaning out, 
tried to discover his chief. Heavy tears coursed down his bronzed cheeks, and 
all his limbs were agitated by a convulsive quivering. The Mexicans ap- 
proached nearer and nearer ; they were already close enough for the number 
of their boats to be distinguished, and a schooner was already leaving the 
creek, and coming up under press of canvas, to ensure the success of the attack. 

The sailors burst into a shout of joy, and laying on their oars, redoubled their 
efforts. A frightful discharge answered them, and the balls flattened against 
the sides of the pinnace and dashed up the water around. The Mexicans, who 
had come within range, opened a terrible fire on the Texans, but the latter did 
not reply. 

A dull noise was heard, followed by cries of despair and imprecations, and a 
black mass passed to windward of the long-boat. It was the brig coming to 
the assistance of its crew, and in passing it sunk and dispersed the enemy’s 
boats. 

When she set foot on the deck of the brig, Carmela fainted, succumbing to 
her emotions. Tranquil raised her in his arms, and, aided by Quoniam and the 
captain, carried her down to the cabin. 

“ Captain,” a sailor shouted, “ the Mexicans ! ” 

While the Texans were engaged in taking their wounded aboard, feeling con- 
vinced that the Mexican boats had been all, or, at any rate, the majority of them, 
sunk by the brig, they had not dreamed of watching an enemy they supposed 
crushed. The latter had cleverly profited by this negligence to rally, and col- 
lecting beneath the bows of the brig, had boldly boarded her, by climbing up 
the main-chains, the sprit-sails, and any ropes’-ends they had been able to 
seize. Fortunately, Master Lovel had the boarding nettings triced up on the 
previous evening, and through this wise precaution the desperate surprise of the 
Mexicans did not meet with the success they anticipated for it. 


126 


The Freebooters. 


The Texans, obeying the voice of their captain, resumed their weapons, and 
rushed on the Mexicans, who were already all but masters of the fore-part of 
the ship. Tranquil, Quoniam, Captain Johnson, and Lovel, armed with axes, 
had flown to the front rank, and by their example excited the crew to do their 
duty properly. There, on a limited space of ten square yards at the most, one 
of those fearful naval combats without order or tactics began, in which rage and 
brutal strength represent science. A horrible struggle, a fearful carnage, with 
pikes, axes, and cutlasses ; a struggle in which each wound is mortal, and which 
recals those hideous combats of the worst days of the middle ages, when brute 
strength alone was the law. 

The White Scalper had never before fought with such obstinacy. Furious at 
the loss of the prey he had so audaciously carried off, half mad with rage, he 
seemed to multiply himself, rushing incessantly with savage yells into the densest 
part of the fight, seeking Carmela, and longing to kill the man who had so 
bravely torn her from him. Accident seemed for a moment to smile on him, by 
bringing him face to face with the captain. 

“ Now for my turn,” he exclaimed, with a ferocious shoift of joy. 

The captain raised his axe. 

“ No no ! ” said Tranquil, as he threw himself hurriedly before him ; “ this 
victim is reserved for me ; I must kill this human-faced tiger. Besides,” he 
added, “ it is my profession to kill wild beasts.” 

“ Ah ! ” the White Scalper said ; “ it is really fatality which brings you once 
more face to face with me. Well, be it so ! I will settle with you first, the others 
after.” 

“ It is you who will die, villain ! ” the Canadian replied. “ Ah ! you carried 
off my daughter and fancied yourself well concealed, did you ? But 1 was on 
your trail ; for the last three months I have been following you step by step, and 
watching for the favourable moment for vengeance.” 

On hearing these words the Scalper rushed furiously on his enemy. The 
latter did not make a movement to avoid him ; on the contrary, he seized him 
in his powerful arms, and tried to throw him down, while stabbing him in the 
loins with his dagger. These two men, with flashing eyes and foaming lips, 
animated by an implacable hatred, intertwined breast to breast, face to face, 
each trying to kill his adversary, caring little to live provided that his enemy 
died, resembled two wild beasts determined to destroy each other. 

Texans and Mexicans had ceased fighting as if by common accord, and re- 
mained horrified spectators of this atrocious combat. At length the Canadian, 
who had been severely wounded before, fell, dragging his enemy down with him. 
The latter uttered a yell of triumph, which was soon converted into a groan of 
despair. Quoniam rushed madly upon him, but, unfortunately, he had miscal- 
culated his distance, and they both fell into the sea, which closed over them with 
» hollow and ill-omened sound. 

The Mexicans, deprived of their chief, now only thought of flight, and rushed 
in mad disorder to their boats ; a moment later they had all quitted the brig, 
Quoniam reappeared, but exhausted and dripping with water. He tottered a 
few paces, and fell by the side of Tranquil, to whom Carmela and the captain 
were paying the most assiduous attention. A few minutes later the hunter fell 
strong enough to try and rise. 

“ Well,” he asked Quoniam, “ is he dead ? ” 

“ I believe so,” the negro replied, as he offered him a small object he held ill 
bis hand. 

The Canadian uttered a cry of surprise on seeing it, 

“ Where did you find this ? ” he asked anxiously. 


Forivard ! 


127 


** When I rushed on that man, I know not how it was, but this chain and the 
articles attached to it were placed, as it were, in my hand. When I fell into the 
sea I clung to the chain ; there it is.” 

Tranquil, after again examining the mysterious object, concealed it in his 
breast, and gave vent to a profound sigh. All at once Carmela started up in 
horror. 

“ Oh, look, look, father ! ” she shrieked; woe, woe, we are lost ! '’ 

The hunter started at the sound of the girl’s voice, and his eyes filled with 
tears. 

“ What is the matter? ” he asked, in a weak voice. 

“ The matter is,” the captain said rudely, “ that unless a miracle take place, 
we are really lost this time.” 

And he pointed to some thirty armed boats, which were pulling up and con- 
verging round the brig, so as to enclose it in a circle, whence it would be im- 
possible for it to escape. 

“ Oh, fate is against us ! ” Carmela exclaimed in despair. 

“No, it is impossible,” Tranquil said quickly; “ God will not abandon 
thus.” 

“ We are saved ! ” Master Lovel shouted ; “ we are saved 1 Look, look ! the 
boats are turning back ! ” 

The crew burst into a shout of joy and triumph ; in the beams of the rising 
sun, the Lihertad corvette could be seen passing through Galveston Straits, hardly 
two cannon-shots’ distance from the brig. The Mexican boats pulled at full 
speed in the direction of land, and soon all had disappeared. The brig drifted 
down to the corvette, and both returned to their old anchorage. 

The two ships had scarce let their anchors fall, ere a boat came alongside the 
brig, from the fort, containing the Jaguar and El Alferez. 

The success of the two hazardous expeditions attempted by the Texans had 
given the cause they defended a great impulse. In a few hours the revolt had 
become a revolution, and the insurgent chiefs men whose existence must hence- 
forth be recognised. The Jaguar desired to push matters on actively, and 
wished to profit by the probable discouragement of the Mexicans to secure the 
surrender of the town without a blow. 

In his conversation with Colonel Melendez, the young chief had purposely 
startled him with the news of the success of the two expeditions, calculating for 
the success of future operations on the stupor General Rubio would experience 
on being told of them. But ere undertaking anything, the Jaguar desired a 
conference with his friends, in order to settle definitively the way in which he 
must behave under such serious circumstances, as he was not at all anxious to 
assume the responsibility of the whole undertaking. This was acting not only 
with prudence, but also with perfect self-denial. 

But as the heart of even the purest and most honourable man is never exempt 
from those weaknesses inherent in human nature, the Jaguar, though perhaps 
not daring to avow it to himself, had another motive that urged him to go 
aboard the brig so speedily. This motive, of a thoroughly private nature, was 
the desire to learn as soon as possible the result of the expedition attempted by 
Captain Johnson and Tranquil against the rancho of the White Scalper. 

Hence, the young man had scarce reached the deck, ere, without returning 
the salutes of his friends who hurried to greet him at the ladder, he inquired 
after Tranquil. The captain gave him no other answer than a sign to follow. 
The young man, not understanding this reserve, though feeling seriously alarmed, 
went below, where he saw Tranquil reclining in a berth, and a weeping femaie 
seated on a chair by his side. The Jaguar turned pale, for in the female ba 


128 


The Freehooters, 


recognised Dona Carmela. At the sound of his approaching footsteps, the 
maiden raised her head. 

“ Oh ! ” she exclaimed, clasping her hands with joy, ** it is you ! you hava 
come at last, then ! ” 

“ Thanks, Carmela,” he replied in a gasping voice ; “ thanks for this kindly 
greeting ; it proves to me that you have not forgotten me.” 

“ Forgot you, to whom, next to my father, I owe everything ! Oh, you know 
that was impossible.” 

“ Thank you, once again. You do not, you cannot know how happy you 
render me at this moment, Carmela. My whole life, employed in your service, 
would not suffice to repay the good you do me. Brave Tranquil, I felt sure that 
he would succeed ! ” 

“ Alas, my friend, this success costs him dear.” 

“ What do you mean ? I trust that he is not dangerously wounded ?” 

“ I fear the contrary, my friend.” 

“ Oh ! we will save him.” 

Come hither. Jaguar,” the hunter said in a low voice ; “ give me your hand, 
that I may press it in mine.” 

The young man walked quickly up to him. 

Oh, with all my heart ! ” he said. 

“ The affair was a tough one, my friend,” the Canadian went on ; that man 
is a lion.” 

“ Yes, yes, he is a rude adversary ; but you got the better of him at last ?” 

“ Thanks to Heaven, yes ; but I shall keep his mark all my life, if God permit 
me to rise again.” 

“ Nonsense, who knows ? any wound that does not kill is soon cured, tho 
Indians say, and they are right. And what has become of that man ?” 

“ In all probability he is dead,” Tranquil said. 

“ That is all for the best.” 

At this moment Captain Johnson opened the door. 

“ A boat, bearing a flag of truce, is hailing the brig ; what is to be done ?” he 
asked. 

“ Receive it, Sangre de Dios ! my dear Johnson. This boat, if 1 am not 
mistaken, is a bearer of good news.” 

“ Our friends would like you to be present to hear the proposals which will 
doubtless be made.” 

“What do you say. Tranquil?” the young chief asked, turning to the old 
hunter. 

“ Go, my boy, where duty calls you,” the latter answered ; “ you will not b& 
away long.” 

“ Certainly not, and so soon as I am at liberty again I will return to your side, 
but merely to have you carried ashore ; your condition demands attention you: 
cannot obtain here.” 

“ I accept, my friend j the more so as I believe the land air will do me 
good.” 

“ That is settled, then,” the Jaguar said, joyously. 

All right,” Tranquil replied, and fell back in his berth. 

The young man, after bowing to Carmela, who returned the salute with a 
gentle and sad glance, left the cabin with the captain, and returned on deck. 

[In our next volume, “ The White Scalper,” we shall again come across all 
the characters of this history, and many mysteries will be cleared up.] 


THE BNO. 


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easy-going and indifferent, or over-busy 
doctor, separate and distinct diseases, 
for which ho prescribes his pills and 
potions, assuming them to be such, 
when, in reality, they arc all only symp- 
toms caused by some womb disorder. 
The physician, ignorant of the cause of 
suffering, encourages his practice until 
large bills are made. The suffering pa- 
tient gets no better, but probably worse 
by reason of the delay, wrong treatment 
and consequent complications. A prop- 
er medicine,. like Dr. Pierce’s Favorite 
Prescription, directed to the cause would 
have entirely removed the disease, there- 
by dispelling all those distressing symp- 
toms, and instituting comfort instead of 
prolonged misery. 

‘^Favorite Prescription” is the 

only medicine for women sold, by drug- 
gists, under a positive guarantee, 
from the manufacturers, that it will 
give satisfaction in every case, or money 
will be refunded. This guarantee has 
been printed on the bottle-wrapper, and 
faithfully carried out for many years. 
Farge bottles (1(X) doses) $1.00, or 
six bottles for $5.00. 

1^“ Send ten cents in stamps for Dr. 
Pierce’s large, illustrated Treatise (160 
pages) on Diseases of Women. Address, 
World’s Dispensary Medical Association, 

r ^ Main Stsset, BUFFALO^ N, 









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